ICE re-arrests Nicaraguan immigrant Yader Cortez three minutes after judge frees him
The gist
Nicaraguan immigrant Yader Cortez was re-arrested by ICE three minutes after a judge ordered his release in Minnesota.
At least 20 such re-arrests were reported in a year, raising questions over whether court orders bind ICE.
How it unfolded
- Jun 2026Yader Cortez was arrested without a warrant by federal agents in St. Cloud, Minnesota, a day after agreeing to a plea deal for a misdemeanor DWI that called for probation, not jail; Judge Blackwell later called the arrest "illegal."
- Jul 2026Cortez had been held at the Sherburne County Jail since the start of July.
- Sep 24, 2026In Pablo F. v. Blanche, a Minnesota federal court found no meaningful release occurred where ICE served an administrative arrest warrant while the petitioner was detained; the petitioner was ordered released and immediately re-arrested.