Abuse of power & retaliationCourts & justice

ICE held a US citizen for 1,273 days after a flawed citizenship investigation; an appeals court then ruled his damages claim was time-barred

Confidence: Confirmed · 4 sourcesUnited States · Oct 12, 2026

Subject of this story

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Also named

Oversight

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit

Advocate

National Immigrant Justice Center

What happened

ICE took Davino Watson, a US citizen through his father's naturalization, into custody on an immigration detainer in 2008 and held him for 1,273 days while pursuing his deportation to Jamaica, despite his repeated, unrepresented claims of citizenship. A jury awarded him damages for false imprisonment, but on July 31, 2017 the Second Circuit (No. 16-655) reversed 2-1, holding the claim was time-barred, even as reporting says the majority acknowledged the government's investigation into his citizenship was beset by errors. Judge Katzmann dissented. Advocates at the National Immigrant Justice Center said ICE faced no consequences for the detention.

By the numbers (1)

● confirmed by a primary document · ○ reported

Figures

○

A U.S. citizen was held 1,273 days in ICE custody while proceeding pro se.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)1,273 days.

1 source

Prison Legal Newsheld 1,273 days in ICE custody while proceeding pro se

Sources (4)

SlateICE detained a U.S. citizen named Davino Watson for three years... the panel majority acknowledged the investigation was 'beset by errors.'

National Immigrant Justice CenterICE Faces No Consequences After Erroneously Holding U.S. Citizen in Immigration Detention for More than Three Years... the court agreed there is no doubt the government botched the investigation into Watson's assertion of citizenship.

Courthouse News ServiceA U.S. citizen wrongfully imprisoned for three years by immigration officials lost his bid Monday for compensation, as the federal appeals court found his claims were filed too late.

Prison Legal NewsSecond Circuit Reverses Judgment in Favor of U.S. Citizen Held 3½ Years in Immigration Detention... held 1,273 days in ICE custody while proceeding pro se.

Response

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

On-record admission

Contacted and made an on-record admission — exact wording not on record.

What happened next (0)

No outcome recorded yet.

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