DACA recipient Catalina “Xóchitl” Santiago has been released from ICE custody following a federal judge’s order declaring her two-month detention unconstitutional. U.S. District Judge Kathleen Cardone ruled that Santiago's detention without individualized justification violated her Fifth Amendment right to due process. Santiago, who has been protected under DACA since 2012 and is currently shielded from deportation through April 2026, was arrested at El Paso International Airport in August while traveling for work.
Despite past minor legal issues, including a 2015 civil disobedience plea and an uncharged 2020 arrest. Santiago has consistently renewed her DACA status. Her legal team, which includes the National Immigration Project and other advocacy organizations, argued successfully that she posed no flight risk or public threat. The judge’s decision was praised as a victory not just for Santiago, but for all DACA recipients and noncitizens with lawful presence, reinforcing that the government must provide valid legal grounds for detention. Santiago’s family expressed deep relief and gratitude, emphasizing the emotional toll her detention took and requesting privacy as they begin healing.
"After nearly two months of wrongful detention, we are relieved that the Court has ordered Catalina Santiago's custody as unconstitutional and that she will soon be reunited with her family," said Marisa Ong, Senior Counsel at Singleton Schreiber
