HUMSI — Human Security Initiative

Human Impact Project

A living database documenting reported immigration enforcement incidents and their human impact.

Immigrant detained without bond hearing, federal judge orders release; appeals court upholds ruling

May 21, 2026 · Taylor, TX

Immigrant detained without bond hearing, federal judge orders release; appeals court upholds ruling

Miguel Angel Gomez Alvarado, who had lived in the United States for 14-15 years as an undocumented immigrant, was stopped by police during a traffic stop between November 2025 and February 2026 and turned over to ICE, which held him in deportation proceedings without a bond hearing. Gomez had no criminal record and was raising American citizen children. A federal judge found that holding him without a bond hearing violated his due process rights and ordered his release. The Trump administration appealed the decision to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, which ruled on July 2, 2026, that the government cannot hold undocumented immigrants for more than 90 days without a bond hearing and must articulate individualized justification for detention.

Timeline

Jul 2, 20265th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld release order and ruled government cannot hold undocumented immigrants without bond hearing for more than 90 days
Feb 2026ICE held Gomez in deportation proceedings without bond hearing; federal judge ordered his release after finding detention violated due process rights
Nov 2025Miguel Angel Gomez Alvarado stopped by state police during routine traffic stop and turned over to ICE

Sources

More incidents in Texas