Unaccompanied minor detained by ICE after 12 years of freedom
May 19, 2026
Alvaro Alexander Barraza Cruz, who entered the U.S. as an unaccompanied minor in 2014 and was released to his mother's custody, was arrested by ICE on May 19, 2026 after a traffic violation conviction. The court granted his petition for habeas corpus, finding his detention violated due process because he had been released by immigration authorities and established a life in California with his mother and two U.S.-born children. The court ordered his immediate release and required the government to provide a pre-deprivation bond hearing with clear and convincing evidence of flight risk or danger if it seeks to re-detain him.
Sources
Related incidents
- Detained woman describes medical neglect, freezing punishment room in ICE custodyAug 24, 2026
- Venezuelan singer John Theis detained by ICE agentsAug 23, 2026
- Rideshare driver detained at Camp Pendleton gate despite valid work permitAug 23, 2026 · Oceanside, CA
- Guatemalan man restrained by ICE agents inside New York laundromatAug 22, 2026 · NY
- Man detained by ICE agents outside Yakima grocery storeAug 22, 2026 · Yakima, WA
- Mexican father arrested by ICE during morning walk in Redondo BeachAug 22, 2026 · Redondo Beach, CA