News

Judge Orders Release of One of 17 Immigrants Detained in Skowhegan Bus Raid

Judge Orders Release of One of 17 Immigrants Detained in Skowhegan Bus Raid

Photo: 560 WGAN Newsradio


One of the 17 people detained by immigration enforcement agents in the raid of a bus in Skowhegan this week is being ordered to be set free.

A federal judge in Bangor is ordering the Venezuelan national released from a detention facility in Fort Fairfield and is granting the person a bond hearing.

The judge’s order also blocks immigration agents from removing the person from Maine, which immigration enforcement has done in the recent past.

The judge determined the government has not distinguished the Venezuelan national’s case from other immigrants who were released after arguing they were denied due process. Court records show 26-year-old Edgar Vicente Bermeo Sicha of Ecuador was denied due process when he was detained in late July at a job site in Maine.

Tuesday, federal agents detained all 17 workers who were riding a bus that was taking them to work at Backyard Farms greenhouse in Madison.

Court documents refer the Venezuelan national B.A.R. The person entered the U.S. in 2023, and was listed as an unaccompanied child, although federal agents say he is now an adult.

The order to release B.A.R was issued by U.S. District Court Judge Stacy D. Newman.

Respondents listed in the case include Attorney General Pamela Bondi, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Acting Director Todd Lyons and several senior immigration enforcement agents

Latest Headlines

2 hours ago in 2014 Winter Olympics, Local

Judge Orders Release of One of 17 Immigrants Detained in Skowhegan Bus Raid

Fresh

A federal judge in Bangor is ordering the Venezuelan national released from a detention facility

7 hours ago in Local

Man Accused of Using Hammer to Destroy Granite Pillar in Bangor

Officers say a large amount of granite had been removed from the pillar.

8 hours ago in Local

Kenduskeag Man Gets 27 Years in Chile Sex Abuse Case

The man will also serve 10 years of supervised release and must pay $20,000 to each of the two victims.

8 hours ago in Local

Eliot Cutler pleads not guilty to probation violation related to 2023 child pornography conviction

Former candidate for governor Eliot Cutler has pleaded not guilty to violating probation for a third time.

8 hours ago in Local

Gorham man killed in head-on crash with pickup truck

A head-on crash in Poland left one man dead Tuesday afternoon.