A federal judge in Louisiana ordered the release of four noncitizens from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody last week, including individuals previously convicted of homicide and sexual exploitation offenses, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
In a Feb. 6 ruling, U.S. District Judge John deGravelles of the Middle District of Louisiana granted release to four men who had been held in ICE detention. DHS identified the individuals as Ibrahim Ali Mohammed of Ethiopia;
Luis Gaston-Sanchez of Cuba (pictured above);
Ricardo Blanco Chomat of Cuba;
and Francisco Rodriguez-Romero of Cuba.
According to DHS, Mohammed was previously convicted of sexual exploitation of a minor and received a final order of removal in September 2024. Gaston-Sanchez was convicted of homicide, assault, robbery and other offenses, with a final order of removal issued in 2001. Blanco Chomat was convicted of homicide, kidnapping and additional felony offenses and received a final order of removal in 2002. Rodriguez-Romero was convicted of homicide and a weapons offense and was ordered removed in 1995.
Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin criticized the court’s decision, stating, “President Trump and Secretary Noem are now enforcing the law and arresting illegal aliens who have no right to be in our country. We are applying the law as written. If an immigration judge finds an illegal alien has no right to be in this country, we are going to remove them. Period.”
DHS said it is continuing removal proceedings for the four individuals and is working to transfer eligible detainees to their countries of origin.
The ruling comes months after DHS expanded detention capacity in Louisiana through a partnership with the state to utilize space at the Louisiana State Penitentiary, known as Angola, for certain ICE detainees. Federal officials have not indicated whether the department will appeal the release order.
