A federal judge in California ordered the release of an undocumented immigrant facing deportation, overturning a prior bond denial by immigration authorities, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced.
David Eduardo Mejia-Martinez, a citizen of El Salvador, was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Nov. 4, 2025, in Sherman Oaks, California, during a targeted enforcement operation. The agency described him as a member of MS-13.
On March 9, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California issued a temporary restraining order and a no-transfer order after Mejia-Martinez filed for a writ of habeas corpus. On April 30, a Department of Justice Immigration Judge denied his request for release on bond, describing him as a flight risk and a danger to the community.
On Aug. 7, the Immigration Judge ordered him deported to El Salvador. On Sept. 8, the District Court granted his petition and ordered his release from ICE custody.