A federal judge has issued an order temporarily preventing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from removing a transgender migrant seeking asylum from a detention facility in Washington state.
The migrant, whose identity has not been publicly disclosed, is currently held at the Northwest ICE Processing Center. According to court documents, the individual is pursuing asylum in the United States, citing fears of persecution if returned to their country of origin due to their gender identity.
The judge’s ruling, delivered this week, directs ICE to halt any plans to deport or transfer the asylum seeker while legal proceedings continue. The decision came after attorneys representing the migrant argued that removal could place their client at significant risk of harm.
Legal advocates have highlighted the case as emblematic of broader concerns about the treatment of LGBTQ+ individuals in immigration detention and the dangers many face in their home countries. The court’s order ensures that the migrant will remain in the United States, at least temporarily, as their asylum claim is reviewed.
ICE has not commented publicly on the specifics of the case, but the agency generally maintains that it complies with all court orders and provides appropriate care for individuals in its custody.
The case is ongoing, and further hearings are expected as the asylum process moves forward. The outcome may have implications for how similar cases involving vulnerable migrants are handled in the future.