Why It Matters
A federal judge in Vermont has ordered the release of the final detainee from a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid conducted in South Burlington last week, marking a significant development in immigration enforcement proceedings. The release of Daysi Camila Patin Patin, 20, represents the third consecutive court order this week freeing individuals detained during the March 11 ICE operation, signaling judicial scrutiny of the agency’s detention decisions in Vermont and raising questions about the legal standards applied in federal immigration cases.
What Happened
Judge Christina Reiss issued an order for Patin Patin’s immediate release following a hearing in federal court in Burlington on Friday, March 20, 2026. Patin Patin had remained in ICE custody for nine days since agents conducted the raid on the South Burlington residence. The judge’s decision came after three separate federal judges ordered the immediate release of ICE detainees this week in the Burlington court, and a fourth detainee was released following a bond hearing in immigration court in Massachusetts.
Patin Patin, who came to the United States from Ecuador as an unaccompanied minor at age 17, was among three individuals detained during the March 11 operation. Her sister, Jisella Johana Patin Patin, and Cristian Humberto Jerez Andrade were also taken into custody during the same raid. Both have since been released following court hearings this week. Jerez Andrade was released after a bond hearing conducted in immigration court. The releases represent a complete turnover of the detainee population from the South Burlington operation within nine days of the initial raid.
By the Numbers
Three federal judges ordered releases in Burlington federal court this week. Four total detainees from the South Burlington raid and related ICE enforcement actions were released within the same period. Patin Patin spent nine days in custody between March 11 and March 20. She was 17 years old when she arrived in the United States from Ecuador. The raid occurred on March 11, 2026.
Zoom Out
The series of judicial releases reflects broader patterns in federal immigration enforcement. Federal judges in immigration cases have increasingly scrutinized ICE detention decisions, particularly regarding individuals without prior criminal convictions or flight risks. Vermont has seen heightened ICE enforcement activity in recent weeks, with multiple raids and detentions occurring across the state.
The case of Patin Patin, who entered the United States as an unaccompanied minor, represents a subset of immigration cases involving individuals who came to the country as children. Federal courts have applied varying standards when evaluating detention of such individuals, weighing factors including ties to the community, family relationships, and immigration history.
The South Burlington ICE operation generated significant community attention, with protesters gathering during at least one related enforcement action. The rapid release of detainees following federal court hearings suggests that judicial review mechanisms are functioning as a check on ICE detention authority, though immigration enforcement officials maintain discretion over initial apprehension decisions.
What’s Next
The three individuals released from the South Burlington raid—Patin Patin, her sister Jisella Johana Patin Patin, and Jerez Andrade—remain subject to ongoing immigration proceedings. Their release from custody does not resolve their underlying immigration cases; rather, it addresses their detention status pending those proceedings.
Federal courts in Vermont will continue processing immigration cases generated by recent ICE enforcement operations. Additional detainees from related enforcement actions remain pending judicial review. Immigration court hearings and federal court proceedings are expected to proceed on separate but related cases.
The judicial decisions this week may influence how federal judges in Vermont evaluate future ICE detention requests, as judges consider factors including community ties, family relationships, and evidence of flight risk when determining whether detainees should be released pending immigration proceedings.