Federal Judge Orders Bond Hearing for Detained Migrant in Nebraska

ACLU Nebraska lawsuit leads to ruling that undocumented immigrant held at McCook ICE facility must get bond hearing or be released

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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A federal judge in Nebraska has ordered U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to provide a bond hearing within seven days for Carlos Roldan Chang, an undocumented migrant detained at the McCook ICE facility, or else release him immediately. The ruling comes in response to a lawsuit filed by ACLU Nebraska on behalf of Roldan Chang, who has been in the U.S. for over 20 years and was previously detained in the Polk County Jail.

Why it matters

The judge's order is a victory for ACLU Nebraska in its ongoing legal battle against ICE's policy of denying bond hearings to nearly all detained immigrants fighting deportation proceedings. The ruling affirms that noncitizens who have been present in the country for years are entitled to a bond hearing, despite the Trump administration's new interpretation of immigration detention statutes.

The details

Roldan Chang, a native of Guatemala, was taken into custody by ICE late last year in Des Moines after being arrested for assault causing bodily injury. Federal officials then started deportation proceedings against him in December. An immigration judge denied his request for a bond hearing based on the Trump administration's new policy, but the federal judge has now ruled that this policy is unlawful. The judge has ordered ICE to provide Roldan Chang with a bond hearing within seven days or release him immediately.

  • Roldan Chang was first taken into custody by ICE in late 2025 in Des Moines.
  • Deportation proceedings against Roldan Chang began in December 2025.
  • ACLU Nebraska filed a lawsuit on behalf of Roldan Chang on January 26, 2026.
  • The federal judge issued the order requiring a bond hearing or release on February 10, 2026.

The players

Carlos Roldan Chang

A Guatemalan immigrant who has been in the United States for over 20 years and was detained by ICE at the McCook detention facility.

ACLU Nebraska

A nonprofit organization that filed a lawsuit on behalf of Roldan Chang challenging ICE's policy of denying bond hearings to detained immigrants.

U.S. District Judge Susan Bazis

The federal judge who issued the order requiring ICE to provide Roldan Chang with a bond hearing or release him.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The federal agency that detained Roldan Chang and has continued to deny bond hearings to detained immigrants based on the Trump administration's new policy interpretation.

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What they’re saying

“We were grateful to see this swift order. It affirmed our contention that Chang is entitled to a bond hearing and that his ongoing detention without a hearing is unlawful.”

— Grant Friedman, ACLU attorney (Nebraska Examiner)

“We are hopeful on next steps, and we will continue to advocate for others in ICE custody who are facing similar circumstances.”

— Grant Friedman, ACLU attorney (Nebraska Examiner)

What’s next

The judge has ordered ICE to provide Carlos Roldan Chang with a bond hearing within seven days. If ICE fails to do so, the judge has ordered that Roldan Chang must be immediately released.

The takeaway

This ruling is a significant victory for ACLU Nebraska in its ongoing legal battle against ICE's policy of denying bond hearings to detained immigrants. The judge's order affirms that noncitizens who have been present in the country for years are entitled to a bond hearing, despite the Trump administration's new interpretation of immigration detention statutes.