Family Held for Over 10 Months in Immigration Detention Released After Court Order

BY MIRABEL ODETA

A woman and her five children, whose more than 10-month detention became the longest known family immigration detention under President Donald Trump’s administration, were released on Thursday following a federal judge’s ruling, according to their lawyer.

The decision came from U.S. District Judge Fred Biery of the Western District of Texas, who ordered the family’s release earlier that day. Within hours of the ruling, the family was freed from custody, marking the end of a prolonged legal and humanitarian case that had drawn attention from immigration advocates and rights groups.

The woman, Hayam El Gamal, and her five children, ranging in age from 5 to 18, had been held in federal custody since June of last year. Their detention followed a fire-bomb attack in Boulder, Colorado, allegedly carried out by El Gamal’s former husband, Mohamed Sabry Soliman. The incident, which targeted a gathering commemorating Israeli hostages held by Hamas militants in Gaza, left several people injured. An 82-year-old woman who was wounded in the attack later died.

Although Soliman was arrested and charged in connection with the attack, El Gamal had already divorced him after his arrest and publicly condemned the violence. Her legal team has consistently maintained that neither she nor her children had any prior knowledge of the suspect’s plans, arguing that their detention was unjustified and unlawful.

“The El Gamal family is free,” said their attorney, Eric Lee, in a statement following their release.

As part of the conditions for their release, El Gamal and her eldest daughter, 18-year-old Habiba Soliman, are required to wear ankle monitors while their immigration case continues.

The ruling, however, sparked criticism from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which oversees Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Officials from the department strongly opposed the judge’s decision, describing it as the action of an “activist judge” and expressing concern about releasing the family into the public.

Federal authorities have stated they were investigating the extent to which the family may have had any knowledge of the attack, though no evidence has been publicly presented indicating their involvement. Meanwhile, the family’s legal representatives have emphasized that the prolonged detention amounted to punishment without proof of wrongdoing.

Concerns about the family’s well-being during their time in custody have also emerged. Their legal team reported that both El Gamal and her children experienced serious health issues while detained. According to their lawyer, El Gamal was taken to an off-site emergency room earlier this month after suffering severe pain. A CT scan reportedly revealed fluid around her heart, raising alarms about her medical condition.

In addition, all five children were said to be struggling with depression, which their legal team attributed to the stress and conditions of long-term detention. Advocates argue that extended confinement, particularly for children, can have lasting psychological effects.

The Department of Homeland Security has disputed these claims, stating that the family received appropriate medical care and was afforded due process throughout their detention.

The case has also reignited broader concerns about conditions within immigration detention facilities. Rights organizations have long criticized such facilities, pointing to detainee complaints describing them as overcrowded, unsanitary, and lacking adequate healthcare.

Reports indicate that at least 47 individuals have died while in ICE custody since Trump returned to office, further fueling criticism of current immigration enforcement policies. Advocacy groups argue that the administration’s intensified crackdown on immigration has led to violations of due process and free speech, while also creating an atmosphere of fear and insecurity, particularly among minority communities.

Supporters of the administration, however, defend these measures as necessary steps to control illegal immigration and strengthen national security. They argue that strict enforcement policies are essential to maintaining order and protecting the country’s borders.

The release of the El Gamal family highlights the ongoing legal and political tensions surrounding immigration policy in the United States, as debates continue over how to balance enforcement with human rights and humanitarian considerations.