Judge orders bond hearing for detained Nebraska DACA recipient
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) —A federal judge has ruled that 27-year-old Joel Angel-Becerril must be given a bond hearing within seven days, or immigration officials must release him while his case continues.
Angel-Becerril, a recipient of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in December.
His attorneys argue he should have been allowed to request bond before an immigration judge much sooner.
The case centers on whether certain detained immigrants are entitled to a bond hearing.
According to the ACLU, Angel-Becerril was born in Mexico and came to the United States when he was about 5 years old.
Now 27, he has lived in Omaha for nearly his entire life. His DACA status is current, and he has authorization to work. He was employed at the time of his detention.
Grant Friedman, a staff attorney with the ACLU, said the ruling is about fairness and due process.
“The biggest thing we know from these rulings is that these individuals are eligible for bond and should have a hearing consistent with that statute,” Friedman said.
He added that the detention has created “so much fear and stress and concern” for families trying to live their daily lives.
Supporters of ICE say the agency is enforcing federal immigration law as required.
A Lincoln resident who declined to be identified said that if someone is in the country illegally, “the crime and sentence has already been done.” The resident added, “It has zero to do with race. We are tired of footing the bill, feeling underappreciated and being complacent in our replacement.”
Friedman said the ruling could have broader implications for other immigrants in Nebraska who were also denied bond hearings.
“I think we’re continuing to see this concern ripple throughout, and it speaks more to the larger practice we’re seeing by ICE,” he said.
Angel-Becerril said in a statement that he is grateful for the support he has received.
“I’m grateful for everyone’s support and everyone helping me through these hard times,” he said.
The outcome of the bond hearing will determine whether Angel-Becerril can return home while his immigration case proceeds.
