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- Mechanic Roberto Orozco-Ramirez walks free after more than 100 days in jail on immigration charges (apnews.com)
Federal Judge Orders Release of Montana Diesel Mechanic After Over 100 Days in Detention
Great Falls, Mont. – After more than three months behind bars, Roberto Orozco-Ramirez, a diesel mechanic from the small town of Froid, was released from the Cascade County Detention Center on Thursday morning. A federal judge in Great Falls ruled Wednesday that his continued detention was unlawful, prompting his release just before 11 a.m.
Orozco-Ramirez, an undocumented immigrant who had been detained since January, was greeted outside the detention center by his eldest son, Roberto Orozco-Lazcano. The father and son shared an emotional embrace, wiping away tears before heading back to their hometown, where a community gathering awaited to celebrate his freedom.
“I need to go home,” Orozco-Ramirez said. “It’s been a long time, but we made it.”
His attorney, Laura Christoffersen, expressed relief and pride following the ruling. “A person, alien or not, cannot be deprived of his liberty without the right to be heard or statutory procedures followed,” she said. Christoffersen credited the residents of Froid for raising tens of thousands of dollars in legal support within days, enabling the family to secure expert immigration counsel.
In a decisive court filing, Chief U.S. District Judge Brian Morris criticized the Trump administration’s interpretation of immigration laws as “erroneous.”
He emphasized that individuals accused of illegal entry are entitled to due process protections guaranteed by the Constitution. “Such indifference from the executive branch to the Constitution’s guarantee of freedom from arbitrary confinement represents grave cause for concern,” Morris wrote.
Orozco-Lazcano, 19, shared his excitement while waiting outside the detention center. “This is the news I’ve been waiting for so long,” he said, recalling the moment his mother informed him about the judge’s decision while he was cooking.
The case has drawn attention well beyond Montana’s borders. Orozco-Ramirez, a father of four, Little League coach, and respected community member, was arrested by Border Patrol in late January, sparking concern in the small, conservative town of Froid, population 195.
Initially charged with felony illegal re-entry, the government dropped that charge in April. However, Orozco-Ramirez remained in custody for weeks afterward, moved between several detention centers across multiple states before returning to Great Falls.
Legal battles over the Trump administration’s expanded policy on mandatory detention of undocumented immigrants have been unfolding nationwide. The policy, introduced in 2019, removes bond eligibility for many immigrants who entered the U.S. illegally, even if they have no criminal history.
Several federal courts in New York, Georgia, and Ohio have rejected this no-bond stance, while others have upheld it. Until now, Montana courts had not issued a ruling on the matter.
Orozco-Ramirez’s legal team is also challenging his 2009 deportation in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. They argue that, due to this ongoing case, federal authorities lack legal grounds to detain or deport him at this time.
Local supporters have rallied behind the family throughout the ordeal. Marvin Qualley, a school bus driver and farmer familiar with the family, described the release as “really exciting” news.
“I saw the other three boys this morning,” he said. “They were just ecstatic.
It was pretty cool.”
The community’s strong support and the court’s ruling mark a significant victory, not only for Orozco-Ramirez but for others facing similar detentions across the country. His lawyer Johnny Sinodis, based in California, called Roberto “a truly exceptional individual” and lamented the broader issue of lawful residents held in immigration detention without proper cause.
As news of Orozco-Ramirez’s release spread, reactions on social media ranged from celebration to debate about immigration policies and legal entry. Supporters highlighted his long-standing contributions to the community and called for granting him U.S. citizenship.
For now, Orozco-Ramirez is reunited with his family and community, hoping to resume his life in Froid after an uncertain and difficult chapter.
Reporting contributed by Mara Silvers.