Russian asylum seeker detained during routine check-in, judge orders release on due process grounds
Mar 20, 2026·Location: Pearsall, TX
Country of origin: Russia

Igor Babkin, a Russian art teacher who fled political persecution, entered the U.S. legally under humanitarian parole in 2024 and was released under supervision. On February 3, 2026, ICE detained him during a routine annual check-in appointment despite his legal status and prior release. Held at the South Texas ICE Processing Center in Pearsall for approximately six weeks, Babkin's attorney challenged the detention as violating due process rights. On March 17, 2026, U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia ordered Babkin's release, finding that ICE had violated his due process rights by reversing its earlier discretionary decision to release him without providing individualized assessment or evidence of changed circumstances. Babkin was released on March 20, 2026.
Timeline
Sources
- How an Asylum Seeker in U.S. Custody Ended Up in a Russian Prison
The New Yorker·Aug 15, 2025·archived copy
- Judge forces release of Russian asylum seeker from ICE detention
San Antonio Express-News·Mar 30, 2026·archived copy
- Asylum seeker in Texas entered U.S. legally. ICE arrested him anyway.
preview-prod.w.expressnews.com·Mar 9, 2026·archived copy
- Russians Claiming U.S. Asylum Face Prolonged Detention and Uncertainty - The Moscow Times
themoscowtimes.com·Jan 30, 2025·archived copy
themoscowtimes.com·Jan 30, 2025·archived copy
- Seattle Times
- cbs8.com
More incidents in Texas
- Three siblings, including 14-year-old, detained in Texas for filming ICE arrestOct 8, 2026 · Brownsville, TX
- Man who told agents 'I'm a citizen' deported from Texas days laterOct 8, 2026 · TX
- Texas pastor deported to Ghana, a country he has never visitedOct 6, 2026 · Mesquite, TX
- ICE arrests in Austin area surge over 300% since start of Trump's second termOct 6, 2026 · Austin, TX
- Houston withdraws $150M grant requiring ICE cooperation after public and council backlashOct 5, 2026 · Houston, TX
- ICE agent shoots Venezuelan DoorDash driver in back, leaves him partially paralyzedOct 4, 2026 · Austin, TX