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Guatemalan father and minor daughter released from ICE detention after judge grants emergency order

Apr 22, 2026

Country of origin: Guatemala

Wilfido Nolberto Cortez Esteban, a Guatemalan father, and his minor daughter Keyra Issa Susana Cortez Calderon were detained by immigration authorities after previously being released on Cortez Esteban's own recognizance while he served as his daughter's guardian. The detention came months after the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals denied their petition for asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture, finding that threats against the family stemmed from personal retribution over Cortez Esteban reporting a vehicle theft rather than a protected ground, and that relatives in Guatemala remained unharmed. Despite the denial, the pair had remained fully compliant with all ICE obligations, attending every immigration court hearing and committing no crimes since their release. A federal judge granted an emergency Temporary Restraining Order finding they had a strong likelihood of being entitled to a pre-deprivation hearing before an immigration judge, ordering the government to release both from custody and barring their re-detention or removal until a proper hearing was held before a neutral decisionmaker.

Timeline

Apr 22, 2026—Father and daughter detained by ICE despite prior release and compliance; federal judge granted emergency TRO ordering their release and barring re-detention or removal pending a hearing
Dec 4, 2025—Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals denied asylum, withholding of removal, and CAT protection claims, upholding BIA decision
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