California’s federal judiciary has struck again, compelling ICE to let go of two more Indian nationals seeking asylum. The orders highlight systemic issues in detaining migrants without hearings, raising alarms about due process in America’s immigration system.
Post-Trump policy shifts have seen ICE adopt aggressive tactics, detaining long-term residents on minor procedural grounds. Courts are now pushing back, as evidenced by this week’s directives following an earlier release of three Indians.
U.S. District Chief Judge Troy L. Nunley presided over both matters, criticizing ICE’s lack of transparency. Kirandeep, an asylum applicant since her 2021 U.S. entry, built a life in California over four years. She complied meticulously with check-ins until a excused absence in September 2025 triggered detention.
No hearing followed, despite her low-risk profile and stable partnership. Nunley ruled this unconstitutional, freeing her outright and shielding her from snap re-arrests.
Rohit’s saga mirrors this: entering undocumented in 2021 to escape Indian political threats, he was grabbed in June 2025 and held seven-plus months without bond review. Strong community roots went ignored as ICE skipped justification.
The court stressed the peril of unchecked custody power, affirming post-release liberty entitlements. These rulings arrive amid surging asylum backlogs, spotlighting tensions between security and rights. Legal experts predict ripple effects, challenging ICE’s detention playbook and bolstering migrant defenses in similar plights.