Judge Slams ICE for 'Coercive' Conditions Imposed on Asylum Seeker

Court says ICE 'knowingly and unlawfully' violated man's due process rights after ordering his release

Mar. 21, 2026 at 2:34pm

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A federal judge in Nevada harshly criticized the Trump administration's Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency for imposing onerous and 'coercive' release conditions on an immigrant who was tortured in his home country and is seeking asylum. The judge found that ICE 'knowingly and unlawfully' violated the man's due process rights by continuing to restrict his liberty even after the court ordered his immediate release.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing legal battles over ICE's detention policies, with hundreds of district court judges rejecting the agency's efforts to detain immigrants indefinitely. The judge's order underscores concerns about ICE's treatment of asylum seekers and the agency's disregard for court rulings protecting immigrants' rights.

The details

Kevin Eliel Aguirre Solis, an asylum seeker from Nicaragua, was initially detained by ICE in June 2025 after a traffic stop, despite having been present in the U.S. since 2020. The court found that ICE 'knowingly and unlawfully' placed him in expedited removal proceedings, violating his due process rights. In February 2026, the judge ordered Aguirre Solis' immediate release, but ICE then imposed strict release conditions including electronic monitoring and regular check-ins. The judge ruled that these conditions were an unconstitutional 'constraint on [Aguirre Solis'] liberty' and ordered them removed.

  • In June 2025, Aguirre Solis was pulled over by North Las Vegas police and charged with several misdemeanors.
  • In January 2026, Aguirre Solis' attorneys filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus.
  • In February 2026, the judge ordered Aguirre Solis' immediate release from detention.
  • In March 2026, the judge issued a new order vacating the release conditions imposed by ICE.

The players

Kevin Eliel Aguirre Solis

An asylum seeker from Nicaragua who was detained by ICE in 2025 despite having been present in the U.S. since 2020.

Judge Richard Franklin Boulware II

A U.S. District Judge in Nevada who ordered Aguirre Solis' release and later ruled that ICE's release conditions violated his due process rights.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The federal agency that detained Aguirre Solis and imposed strict release conditions on him after the court ordered his release.

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What they’re saying

“Disturbingly, this Court's Order apparently did not deter ICE from continuing to egregiously violate Petitioner's rights, despite never asserting a legitimate interest in depriving him of his liberty.”

— Judge Richard Franklin Boulware II, U.S. District Judge

What’s next

The judge has ordered ICE to remove Aguirre Solis' ankle monitor and file a joint status report by March 27, 2026.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between the courts and ICE over the agency's aggressive detention policies, particularly towards asylum seekers. The judge's strong rebuke of ICE's actions underscores concerns about the agency's disregard for immigrants' constitutional rights.