Truck driver Suraj Vasal wins third court order for bond hearing
Feb 27, 2026·Location: Polk County, IA
Country of origin: India
DetainmentDue Process ViolationAsylum SeekerHabeas PetitionVehicle/Traffic StopAsian/Pacific IslanderIowa

Suraj Vasal, an Indian national detained by ICE after a February traffic stop, secured a third judicial order for a bond hearing after U.S. District Judge Stephen Locher ruled the government violated his due process rights. Locher rejected arguments that the government could retroactively change decades of practice regarding bond hearings for detainees and noted Vasal is gainfully employed with no evidence of being a flight risk. The judge ordered the government to provide a hearing by April 30, 2026, or immediately release Vasal from the Polk County Jail.
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