ICE officer held in contempt for moving detainees across state lines despite court orders
Jul 2, 2026·Location: Cedar Rapids, IA

Two federal judges in Iowa held ICE Supervisory Detention and Deportation Officer Quintin Erdman in civil contempt for knowingly and willfully transferring detainee Pardeep Saini from Iowa to Nebraska in direct violation of a court order blocking such transfers. In a separate case, detainee Osmar Jose Arraiz Montilla was transferred between federal judicial districts while his case was pending. The judges sharply criticized ICE officials for a pattern of repeatedly violating court orders in immigration cases, with one judge warning that noncitizens are not 'bargaining chips' to be moved based on litigation strategy.
Sources
- Iowa judges take ICE to task over ‘astonishing conduct’ and violations of court orders
kyoutv.com·Jun 30, 2026·archived copy
- iowacapitaldispatch.com
- Iowa judges take ICE to task over ‘astonishing conduct’ and violations of court orders
- desmoinesregister.com
- ottumwaradio.com
- Federal judge orders a bond hearing for another ICE detainee in Iowa jail
southernminn.com·archived copy
kyoutv.com·Jul 16, 2026·archived copy
- iowacapitaldispatch.com
- Judge orders bond hearing for Clarion man detained by ICE
- newsfromthestates.com
- CourtListener
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