Overview

• Judge Maria Akalski denied his asylum claim at a virtual hearing on Tuesday and ordered his removal, giving him 30 days to appeal.
• He remains in ICE custody at the Moshannon Valley Processing Center in Pennsylvania after being arrested during a routine immigration court appearance in May.
• His attorneys say he entered under a Biden-era entry program, filed asylum on time, and complied with hearings, while the Department of Homeland Security argues he entered illegally.
• A federal judge in Pennsylvania in July rejected a request for a preliminary injunction that could have provided temporary protection, and his legal team is now pursuing both an appeal and a bond motion.
• New York City officials filed an amicus brief and expressed support, as advocates report additional courthouse detentions of public school students in recent months.