Mexican immigrant removed from Puerto Rico granted release on bond

San Juan, P.R. - Mexican immigrant Sandro González Domínguez will be able to reunite with his family in Puerto Rico and return to his community while released on bond, following a hearing this Thursday at the Immigration Court in Guaynabo. A $7,500 bond was set by Immigration Judge Elvin Talavera Peraza, who acknowledged in court that González Domínguez poses neither a flight risk nor a danger to the community—contrary to the claims attempted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The hearing took place while immigration agencies remained in non-compliance with the ruling by Federal Judge Raúl Arias Marxuach, who had ordered on Wednesday that González Domínguez be brought back to Puerto Rico.

"We welcome the fact that Sandro will be able to reunite with his family in Puerto Rico, which is his home. However, at the same time, we condemn the authoritarian attitude with which immigration agencies continue to behave, even after the immigration judge's determination," stated attorney Fermín Arraiza, Legal Director of the ACLU of Puerto Rico. "Sandro should never have been detained, much less removed from Puerto Rico," Arraiza maintained.

González Domínguez was removed from the local jurisdiction while the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico was considering a habeas corpus petition filed by the Puerto Rico Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) on the Mexican immigrant's behalf—a proceeding of which federal immigration agencies were aware. Sandro appeared at the bond hearing via videoconference, reportedly from the Krome Detention Center in Miami, Florida. By mid-afternoon on Thursday, immigration agencies had not returned González Domínguez to the archipelago.

"Once again, we see federal immigration agencies acting unlawfully—transferring Sandro, blocking communication with his legal counsel and family, exposing him to the dangers and rights violations already documented in detention centers, and now unnecessarily delaying his release and reunion with his loved ones and community," stated attorney María "Charito" García, González Domínguez’s immigration lawyer and director of the Immigration Clinic at the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) School of Law.

In the courtroom, García argued her case and presented extensive, compelling evidence demonstrating the falsity of ICE’s claims regarding an alleged flight risk and danger to the community. A large group of family members, friends, and community members also attended the hearing to support González Domínguez.

The business owner has resided in the United States and Puerto Rico for 28 years and is the co-owner of a restaurant company with eight locations in the archipelago, employing approximately 115 people. He was detained by masked ICE agents on September 26 outside one of his restaurants.

The ACLU of Puerto Rico filed a habeas corpus petition on September 28. That petition specifically sought to prevent González Domínguez’s transfer out of the jurisdiction of Puerto Rico. Immigration agencies had been informed of the case and were aware of the proceedings. Despite this, at approximately 4:42 p.m., González Domínguez’s name disappeared from the ICE detainee locator system, which had previously placed him in San Juan. Judge Arias Marxuach issued his opinion and order in response to the habeas corpus petition at 5:45 p.m. Subsequently, the judge was informed via an urgent motion of ICE’s action and the immigrant’s transfer. Arias Marxuach then ordered that he be brought back.