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Gay man detained at green card interview, held 150 days despite judge's bond order, released after lawsuit

Apr 23, 2026·Location: New York, NY

Country of origin: Cayman Islands

Gay man detained at green card interview, held 150 days despite judge's bond order, released after lawsuit
Photo via watermarkoutnews.com

Allan Marrero, a Cayman Islands native, was detained by ICE on November 24, 2025, after arriving for a routine marriage-based green card interview at a USCIS office in Lower Manhattan. ICE discovered a prior removal order from 2022 related to an overstayed tourist visa and a missed immigration court hearing that occurred while Marrero was in alcohol rehabilitation. An immigration judge reopened his case and granted bond in January 2026, citing his clean criminal record and community support, but ICE refused to accept bond payment and used procedural mechanisms to continue his detention. Marrero was moved between multiple facilities across Arizona, Texas, Mississippi, and New York. After 150 days in custody, he was released on April 23, 2026, following a lawsuit that challenged ICE's refusal to honor the bond order. He was reunited with his husband Matthew.

Timeline

Apr 23, 2026—Marrero released after 150 days in custody following lawsuit challenging ICE's bond refusal; reunited with husband
Jan 28, 2026—Immigration judge reopened case and granted $6,000 bond; ICE refused to accept bond payment
Nov 24, 2025—Allan Marrero detained by ICE at green card interview at 26 Federal Plaza in Lower Manhattan
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