A federal judge in Louisiana has twice ordered U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to release a 77-year-old Palestinian-born man from custody — and twice ICE moved to detain or deport him anyway, setting up a direct confrontation between the agency and the federal judiciary.
Why It Matters
The case of Akram Mahmoud Omar has become a flashpoint over whether ICE is bound by federal court orders in immigration enforcement actions. A sitting federal judge has now issued two separate commands for Omar’s release, raising constitutional questions about agency compliance with judicial authority.
Omar, a lawful permanent resident who has lived in the United States for 50 years, is currently being held at Camp 57, an ICE detention facility located inside Louisiana’s Angola state prison.
What Happened
Omar was first taken into ICE custody during a routine check-in last October. He had lived in the U.S. since 1975, having emigrated from the Israeli-occupied West Bank. During his detention, he suffered a heart attack in April and subsequently underwent open-heart surgery.
On May 29, U.S. District Judge Brian Jackson ordered ICE to release Omar, concluding that his continued detention violated his constitutional rights. Omar was freed.
Ten days later, on June 8, ICE agents arrived at Omar’s home without advance warning and took him back into custody. The following morning, the agency attempted to place him on a deportation flight — an approximately 14-hour journey — headed toward Israel.
Judge Jackson responded the same day with a second order: “U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (‘ICE’) shall IMMEDIATELY RELEASE Omar from ICE custody.” The judge further directed that ICE may not re-detain or remove Omar while an emergency motion remains pending before the court.
By the Numbers
- 77 — Omar’s age
- 50 years — length of time Omar has lived in the U.S. as a lawful permanent resident
- 10 days — time between his court-ordered release and ICE’s second seizure
- 2 — number of prior convictions Omar has on record, both minor and nonviolent (2005 and 2022)
- 14 hours — approximate duration of the planned deportation flight ICE attempted to board him on
Legal and Constitutional Context
Omar’s attorney, Bridget Pranzatelli, characterized ICE’s conduct as a pattern rather than an isolated incident, saying “this level of cruelty and disrespect for federal courts is the rule, not the exception.”
Omar had not been scheduled for another routine ICE check-in until December, making the surprise June 8 home visit and re-arrest unexpected by his legal team. His two prior convictions — both nonviolent — had been central to the government’s justification for his original detention last October.
The attempt to deport Omar to Israel drew additional scrutiny, given that Omar is Palestinian and originating from the West Bank. His attorneys have challenged the legal basis for that destination as well.
The Department of Homeland Security has separately directed ICE to pursue attorneys who file what it characterizes as false asylum claims, a policy that immigration lawyers say creates a chilling effect on legal representation in cases like Omar’s.
Zoom Out
The Omar case reflects a broader national tension between immigration enforcement priorities under the current administration and federal courts issuing injunctions or release orders in individual cases. Federal judges across multiple circuits have clashed with ICE over detentions and deportations, with some rulings finding constitutional violations and ordering immediate releases that the agency has at times been slow to honor or has subsequently reversed.
Louisiana has emerged as a notable venue in these disputes, partly because several ICE detention facilities — including the Angola-based Camp 57 — house detainees from across the country.
What’s Next
Judge Jackson’s second order remains in force while the emergency motion is resolved. The court has explicitly prohibited ICE from re-detaining or removing Omar in the interim. Legal observers will be watching whether ICE complies or whether the court moves toward contempt proceedings. Omar’s legal team is expected to press for a more permanent resolution to prevent further re-detention.