Diesel mechanic freed after 109 days in ICE detention, judge rejects Trump detention policy
May 15, 2026·Location: Great Falls, MT
Country of origin: Mexico

Roberto Orozco-Ramirez, an undocumented Mexican immigrant who had lived in Froid, Montana for 25 years and built a successful diesel repair business, was arrested by Border Patrol agents on January 25, 2026, after they staked out his home. He was charged with illegal reentry, but the government dropped that charge in April 2026, and he remained detained under the Trump administration's expanded mandatory detention policy for undocumented immigrants. Orozco-Ramirez is a father of four U.S. citizen children with no criminal record. The small, conservative town of Froid organized community fundraisers to support his family during his detention. On May 14-15, 2026, U.S. District Court Chief Judge Brian Morris ruled that his continued detention was unlawful, finding the administration's interpretation of mandatory detention law erroneous and in violation of due process and constitutional rights, and ordered his immediate release from the Cascade County Detention Center.
Timeline
Sources
- PBS
- ICE ordered to release Honduran man brought to US as 4-year-old
Newsweek·May 15, 2026·archived copy
- Mechanic Roberto Orozco-Ramirez walks free after more than 100 days in jail on immigration charges
Associated Press·May 15, 2026·archived copy
thetelegraph.com·May 15, 2026·archived copy
- Montana judge rules to release Froid mechanic after 109 days in detention
montanafreepress.org·May 14, 2026·archived copy
montanafreepress.org·May 14, 2026·archived copy
- After 100 days in detention, Froid turns out to welcome Roberto Orozco-Ramirez home
montanafreepress.org·May 22, 2026·archived copy
- thirteen.org
- For years he was just the beloved local auto shop owner. Then came Border Patrol.
montanafreepress.org·Jan 28, 2026·archived copy
- Conservative Montana town pushes back after ICE arrest
- infonews.ca
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