A federal judge ordered three immigrants released and barred ICE from re-detaining them without a hearing; they allege ICE used check-in letters as a ruse to arrest them
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Also named
What happened
In Fanfan v. Noem (S.D. Cal., filed November 25, 2025), three immigrants who had been released and were attending ICE check-ins, Chancely Fanfan, Maria Maldonado Cruz and Elesban Angel Mendez, allege ICE sent letters requiring them to appear, then arrested and re-detained them without notice or a hearing; Fanfan was separated from his wife and U.S.-citizen infant son. On December 12, 2025, U.S. District Judge Dana Sabraw granted a temporary restraining order requiring their release and barring ICE from re-detaining them without first holding a hearing where the government must show changed circumstances relating to danger or flight risk. Plaintiffs' counsel moved for class certification on February 25, 2026. The government has not been reported as responding.
By the numbers (1)
● confirmed by a primary document · ○ reported
Roles
1 source
- CourtListener (docket, Fanfan v. Noem, 3:25-cv-03291, S.D. Cal.) — CourtListener (docket, Fanfan v. Noem, 3:25-cv-03291, S.D. Cal.)Document
Judge Sabraw's December 12, 2025 temporary restraining order requiring release of the named plaintiffs
Sources (4)
Response
Contacted — no response by publication.
Contacted — no response by publication.
What happened next (0)
No outcome recorded yet.