A Minnesota State University, Mankato student who was picked up in late March and held by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been ordered released by U.S. District Judge Jerry Blackwell.
Mohammed Hoque, 20, a native of Bangladesh, was being held for removal from the United States based on a prior conviction for misdemeanor disorderly conduct, MPR reported this week.
Hoque is a pro-Palestine activist who claims he was targeted by the Trump administration for speaking out on Palestinian human rights and violence in Gaza.
In his 17-page order for the release of Hoque, Judge Blackwell stated that Hoque’s “First Amendment claim is clear on the law and on the facts.” Blackwell went on to detail his belief that Hoque was targeted by the Trump administration for his speech, not his past misdemeanor. Blackwell said that the Department of Homeland Security failed to present evidence justifying Hoque’s arrest and continued detention.
“The record contains sufficiently clear evidence of viewpoint-based targeting for Petitioner’s exercise of protected speech on a matter of public concern,” Blackwell wrote.
Hoque was conditionally released from custody earlier this week on $7,500 bond previously set by an immigration judge.
Hoque was among three separate international students detained by ICE in the last few weeks based on prior convictions, and was being held in jail in Albert Lea. In another case, a judge has blocked the deportation of University of Minnesota graduate student Doğukan Günaydın despite a prior DWI conviction. He remains in custody pending appeal, Fox 9 reported.
Blackwell formerly served as a pro bono prosecutor in Attorney General Keith Ellison’s office and was a prominent figure in the prosecution of former police officer Derek Chauvin.
Blackwell was nominated for his seat on the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota in 2022 by then President Joe Biden, following Chauvin’s trial and conviction.
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Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
Crime Watch MN
Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
