Dreamer Freed, DHS Dismisses Removal Proceedings

LINCOLN, Neb. – A Nebraska Dreamer is back home after nearly three months in the custody of immigration officials.

On Friday, an Omaha Immigration Court Judge granted a motion to dismiss removal proceedings against Joel Angel-Becerril, who has temporary and renewable protection against deportation and work authorization through the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Angel-Becerril had been in Sarpy County Jail on a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer since early December. ICE paperwork stated agents took him into custody because he had not been “admitted or paroled” into the country and did not have a “valid entry document.”

The dismissal of removal proceedings came roughly two weeks after Angel-Becerril filed a federal civil rights lawsuit with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Nebraska, asking a judge to order his bond hearing or his release. Angel-Becerril is one of many immigrants who have been impacted by ICE’s adoption of a policy that asserts most detained immigrants, including those encountered within the country, are subject to mandatory detention and ineligible for release on bond.

A federal judge declared Angel-Becerril's continued detention without a bond hearing unlawful in a mid-February order. On Friday, Angel-Becerril had a hearing in Omaha Immigration Court where a judge rejected his request for bond and granted a motion to dismiss removal proceedings because of Angel-Becerril's protection under DACA, freeing him after months in custody. Angel-Becerril returned home that day.

Angel-Becerril was born in Mexico and came to the United States at about 5 years old. Now 27 years old, he has lived almost his entire life in Omaha. He said he is looking forward to getting back to his normal life and may be back to work as early as this week.

Angel-Becerril made this statement:

“I’m walking into this new chapter of my life with nothing but gratitude. While my future felt uncertain through it all, I was reminded how critical due process and real support truly are. My freedom didn’t happen by chance. It happened because of my family, dedicated attorneys, loyal friends and a supportive community. This experience opened my eyes to how quickly lives can be disrupted, especially for those of us navigating this country under DACA. My case is just one story, but I hope it sheds light on the ongoing injustices many families face and the urgent need for fairness, accountability and reform.”

ACLU of Nebraska Staff Attorney Grant Friedman said:

“We are thrilled Joel is now back with his family, which is where he belongs. The dismissal of his removal proceedings is welcome proof that DACA still protects its recipients, who rightly believe that home is here. Although the right thing would have been for our client never to have been taken into ICE custody in the first place, we are grateful he is finally free and back home.”

Angel-Becerril’s case is one of five that the ACLU of Nebraska has launched this year on behalf of people in ICE custody. Last year, ACLU of Nebraska lawsuits prompted the release of three women who were separated from their families after an ICE workplace raid in Omaha. Advocacy efforts led to the release of a fourth client, a man with two young children at home.