DACA Recipient in Nebraska Faces Legal Battle Over Detention
A new legal challenge has emerged in Nebraska, where the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has taken up the case of a young immigrant facing deportation. Joel Angel-Becerril, a 27-year-old participant in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, finds himself at the center of a federal lawsuit aimed at securing his release.
DACA, an initiative started during the Obama administration, offers temporary protection from deportation and work permits to young immigrants brought to the U.S. as children. Despite its benefits, the program remains embroiled in legal battles and does not offer a path to citizenship. The ACLU’s action marks its first immigration detention case involving a DACA recipient in Nebraska, where 2,500 of the half-million U.S. recipients reside.
No Prior Interaction with ICE
Angel-Becerril, who moved to Omaha from Mexico at age 5 with his mother and sister, has lived in the city for nearly all his life. A 2015 DACA enrollee, he worked full-time at an auto salvage company and has four siblings, three of whom are U.S. citizens. Before his December arrest and subsequent deportation proceedings, Angel-Becerril had no previous encounters with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security or Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), according to his attorneys. He is currently detained in Sarpy County Jail.
“We are all highly troubled by seeing this turn of events,” stated ACLU spokesperson Sam Petto. “There is no question it marks an escalation of where we have been.” Petto highlighted the common belief that DACA participants “are safe, or should be.”
Douglas County Court records show Angel-Becerril pleaded not guilty to an assault charge involving choking last summer. The felony case was dismissed in August, and his attorney, Grant Friedman, confirmed that Angel-Becerril has no criminal convictions.
Currently, Angel-Becerril is held under the assertion of mandatory detention, placing him among many immigrants nationwide being denied bond hearings due to a recent legal interpretation and ICE policy change. This policy suggests that almost all detained immigrants are ineligible for release on bond.
In a personal statement, Angel-Becerril expressed hope for reuniting with his family, stating, “Nebraska is my home.”
Lawsuit Seeks Resolution
The lawsuit, which aims to either secure Angel-Becerril’s release or grant him a hearing, names the Department of Homeland Security, ICE, and the Sarpy County corrections director as defendants. Federal officials have yet to respond to inquiries about the case.
