Sacramento, California, USA: U.S. federal courts in California have ordered immigration authorities to release three Indian nationals, ruling that they were re-detained without proper notice, hearings, or legal justification after previously being allowed to remain in the country.

The rulings, issued this week by judges in the Eastern and Southern Districts of California, found that immigration officials violated basic due process protections by taking the men back into custody despite their compliance with release conditions and ongoing immigration cases.

One case involved Harmeet S., a 21-year-old who entered the U.S. in August 2022 and was released as a minor under federal protections. Despite full compliance with a supervised release program and no criminal record, he was detained during a routine check-in in November 2025 and held for over a month without a bond hearing. The court ordered his immediate release and barred future detention without notice and a hearing.

In a separate ruling, the court directed the release of Sawan K., who entered the U.S. in September 2024 and sought asylum citing political persecution. Although he regularly reported to immigration authorities, he was detained again in September 2025 and held for nearly four months without a warrant or hearing. The judge ruled that mandatory detention rules were wrongly applied and ordered his release.

A third decision in Southern California granted habeas relief to Amit, who entered the U.S. in September 2022, was released, gained employment, and applied for asylum. He was arrested outside his home in September 2025 without notice or explanation. The court ordered his release, stating that any future detention would require prior notice, a hearing, and proof that he poses a danger or flight risk. Across all cases, judges stressed that re-detaining individuals without hearings threatens constitutional protections and risks unjust loss of liberty.