Judge Orders Release of Family After Longest ICE Detention Under Trump Administration

A woman and her five children were released from U.S. immigration detention after more than 10 months, marking the longest known family detention during President Donald Trump’s administration. The release came Thursday following an order from U.S. District Judge Fred Biery in the Western District of Texas, according to the family’s lawyer.

Hayam El Gamal and her children, aged between 5 and 18, had been held in federal custody since June last year. Their detention was linked to a fire-bomb attack in Boulder, Colorado, allegedly carried out by El Gamal’s ex-husband, Mohamed Sabry Soliman. An elderly victim of the attack later died from her injuries. Authorities confirmed Soliman was arrested and charged, while El Gamal had already divorced him and publicly condemned the incident.

“The El Gamal family is free,” said attorney Eric Lee, who represented the family during their immigration case. As part of the release conditions, El Gamal and her eldest daughter, Habiba Soliman, 18, are required to wear ankle monitors.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), criticized the ruling, describing it as the decision of an “activist judge.” Officials expressed concern about releasing relatives of a terrorism suspect, while emphasizing that federal investigators are still examining whether the family had prior knowledge of the attack.

The family’s legal team strongly denied any involvement, stating that the detention was unlawful and violated due process rights. They also raised serious concerns about the family’s health while in ICE custody, alleging inadequate medical care. According to Lee, El Gamal was rushed to an emergency room after experiencing severe pain, where doctors reportedly discovered fluid around her heart. The children were also said to be suffering from depression.

DHS maintained that the family received proper medical treatment and legal procedures. However, immigrant rights groups continue to criticize ICE detention conditions, calling them inhumane and unsafe. Reports indicate that dozens of detainees have died in custody since Trump returned to office, intensifying scrutiny over U.S. immigration policies.

The case highlights ongoing debates around immigration enforcement, detention practices, and civil liberties, as the Trump administration defends its crackdown as essential for national security and controlling illegal immigration.