A federal judge in Louisiana ordered the release of four undocumented immigrants with extensive criminal records - including three Cubans convicted of serious crimes - despite the fact that all of them had final deportation orders issued decades ago.
The decision was made on February 6 by Judge John deGravelles, appointed during the Obama administration and currently serving on the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana.
According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the magistrate granted the release of the four defendants from the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The three Cubans benefiting from the court order are Luis Gastón Sánchez, Ricardo Blanco Chomat, and Francisco Rodríguez Romero, all of whom have been convicted of homicide and other violent crimes.
In addition, Ibrahim Ali Mohammed, an Ethiopian citizen convicted of child sexual exploitation, and Francisco Rodríguez Romero, who has a criminal history involving homicide and weapon-related offenses, were released.
Reaction from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
From the DHS, Undersecretary Tricia McLaughlin reacted strongly to the decision, stating that the consequences of this decision will be more violations, murders, assaults, and robberies affecting more American victims.
"Releasing these monsters is an inexcusable recklessness. President Trump and Secretary Noem are now enforcing the law and arresting undocumented immigrants who have no right to be in our country," he questioned.
McLaughlin added that the government's stance is clear: "We are enforcing the law as it is written. If an immigration judge determines that an illegal immigrant has no right to be in this country, we will deport them. Period."
The cases of the released Cubans
According to the DHS, Luis Gastón Sánchez, a Cuban citizen, has convictions for homicide, assault, resisting an officer, concealment of stolen property, and two charges of theft. An immigration judge issued a deportation order against him on September 24, 2001.
Ricardo Blanco Chomat, also Cuban, was sentenced for homicide, kidnapping, aggravated assault with a firearm, robbery, theft, sale of cocaine, and other crimes. He has had a deportation order since March 27, 2002.
The third Cuban is Francisco Rodríguez Romero, with a history of homicide and a weapon-related offense. He had a deportation order since May 30, 1995.
For his part, the Ethiopian Mohammed had a final deportation order issued on September 5, 2024. He was released during the Biden administration.
The context in Louisiana and the list released in September
The judicial decision comes months after the DHS announced in September an expansion of ICE detention space at the Louisiana State Penitentiary, known as Angola prison or "Louisiana Lockup."
The agreement with the state allowed for an increase to 416 beds in that facility, intended to house undocumented immigrants with serious criminal records.
At that moment, the Department revealed the names and backgrounds of 51 undocumented immigrants classified among the most dangerous in the country, detained in that prison. More than 20 were Cuban citizens, alongside convicts from Venezuela, China, Iran, Russia, and Vietnam.
According to the DHS, among the inmates there were those convicted of murder (26), rape (8), sexual exploitation of a minor (8), and sexual assault against minors (9).
Among the names released in September was Ricardo Blanco Chomat, one of the Cubans now freed by court order, who appeared on the list of inmates serving long sentences for murder and other serious crimes.
There were also other Cubans, such as Erick Carlos Artiles Ramos, Félix Bartutis Pérez, and Juan Carlos Viera-Guedes for homicide, as well as Yamil Ballate-Martínez and Maykel Rodríguez Valladares for sexual offenses.
Judicial decision that reinforces the controversy
The list was disseminated in line with the official narrative that certain undocumented immigrants with violent backgrounds pose a threat to public safety.
However, it also generated debate, as the dissemination of those individual cases occurred in a context where thousands of Cubans without a criminal record are seeking refuge and opportunities in the United States, amid a backdrop of polarized discussions on immigration.
The recent order from Judge de Gravelles now reopens the discussion about the extent of judicial authority in relation to immigration detention decisions, as well as the balance between due process guarantees and public safety policies.
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