Minnesota Judge Orders ICE to Return Deported Nicaraguan to U.S.
A Minnesota court ordered ICE to bring back deported Nicaraguan Kenis Lopez Gonzalez.
Why it matters: The ruling highlights key procedural protections in immigration enforcement and signals scrutiny on deportations to third countries. Legal counsel should monitor these developments amid intensified oversight of detainee rights.
- October 30, 2026: Judge Jeffrey M. Bryan orders ICE to return Lopez Gonzalez from Central African Republic (CAR).
- Lopez Gonzalez was granted withholding of removal in August 2024 but was detained and deported by ICE in 2026.
- Court found ICE violated its own regulations by revoking Lopez Gonzalez's release without proper notice.
- ICE must contact Lopez Gonzalez’s attorneys by November 4 and seek authorization for his return by November 6, 2026.
On October 30, 2026, U.S. District Judge Jeffrey M. Bryan issued a preliminary injunction requiring the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to return Kenis Adalberto Lopez Gonzalez, a Nicaraguan national, to the United States from the Central African Republic (CAR). Lopez Gonzalez was deported to the CAR by ICE in August 2026 despite having been granted withholding of removal in August 2024, a legal protection that prevents his deportation to Nicaragua due to fears of persecution.
The court determined that ICE repeatedly failed to follow its own regulations, notably revoking Lopez Gonzalez's supervised release without providing proper notice or justification. He was detained during Operation Metro Surge in January 2026 and has since been confined to a guarded building in Bangui, relying on the International Organization for Migration for basic needs. The U.S. State Department has issued a Level 4 'Do Not Travel' advisory for the CAR, citing crime, civil unrest, and kidnapping risks.
Judge Bryan's order mandates that ICE contact Lopez Gonzalez’s attorneys by November 4, 2026, and submit a request to authorize his return to the U.S. by November 6, 2026. The order also prohibits ICE from using rubber bullets or other projectiles against him during the process.
Attorneys representing Lopez Gonzalez criticized ICE's actions, stating the agency violated constitutional rights. "ICE violated Mr. Lopez's constitutional rights, and hardly even denied it," said Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg. Lopez Gonzalez expressed gratitude for the court's intervention, emphasizing his vulnerability since deportation.
This case underscores critical legal challenges in immigration enforcement, especially the deportation of individuals to third countries without proper procedural safeguards. It comes at a time when the U.S. Supreme Court plans to hear related immigration enforcement cases in December 2026, signaling heightened judicial scrutiny of such government actions.
By the numbers:
- October 30, 2026 — Date of judge’s order to return Lopez Gonzalez
- August 2024 — Lopez Gonzalez granted withholding of removal
- January 2026 — ICE detained Lopez Gonzalez during Operation Metro Surge
- November 6, 2026 — Deadline for ICE to seek authorization to return Lopez Gonzalez
What's next: The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear related immigration enforcement cases in December 2026, potentially impacting third-country deportation practices.