SEATTLE, Wash. — Last week, a federal judge ordered the immediate release of Joswar Rodriguez Torres from detention.
Torres, a Venezuelan citizen, had been held at the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma since June 2025. He’s reportedly home in Spokane.
According to court documents, Torres entered the U.S. through the Hildago, Texas Port of Entry in September 2024. Initially granted paroled entry, he was one of two men detained by ICE in Spokane.
Protests erupted at the ICE building following their detainment, with protestors attempting to block ICE vehicles which resulted in the arrest of local protesters including former Spokane City Council President Ben Stuckart.
On June 29, the court found that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) unlawfully re-detained Torres without considering his individual circumstances, court documents said. The ruling stated that DHS’s actions violated the Administrative Procedure Act and the Fifth Amendment’s Due Process Clause.
The court noted that DHS failed to provide evidence that Torres was a danger to the community or a flight risk. The decision emphasized that all persons, regardless of immigration status, are entitled to due process under the Fifth Amendment.
