February 20, 2026
A Quiet Day Fishing has Two Brothers Caught in a DNR Trap
What began as a quiet afternoon of fishing on the Manistee River quickly escalated into a 110 day nightmare for a local father and community mechanic and his brother. Their case highlights a deeply concerning pattern of coordinated, targeted operations that funnel community members into prolonged detention without basic due process.
The Incident: A Routine Check Turns into a Trap
While fishing in northern Michigan, our clients were stopped for what appeared to be a routine Department of Natural Resources (DNR) fishing license check. However, this stop was a pretext. It was a coordinated, targeted operation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Instead of simply verifying a license, the encounter resulted in immediate detention.
They were separated from their families, removed from his community, and placed in a detention facility where they would remain for nearly four months.
The Legal Hurdle: Denied Bond and “No Jurisdiction”
The most alarming aspect of this case was the immediate breakdown of due process. Following his detention, the presiding judge denied bond and claimed “no jurisdiction” to hear the case.
This legal maneuvering effectively stripped our client of his right to a timely hearing. The system’s objective was clear. They intended to keep him locked in a cell without bond until his next scheduled court date. For a father and essential provider, a long term detention would have meant total devastation for his family.
(Watch the 90 second breakdown of the case and the legal fight to bring him home.)
The SWIRC Intervention: Forcing the Court to Listen
The Southwest Detroit Immigrant and Refugee Center believes that every person is entitled to fair representation and a chance to be heard. Our legal team stepped in to challenge the court’s refusal to act.
The SWIRC defense team built a robust argument rooted in federal case law. They systematically dismantled the “no jurisdiction” claim, legally forcing the court to acknowledge its authority and review the merits of the detention.
The Resolution: Family Reunification
The strategic application of federal case law succeeded. The court was forced to listen, and the legal team successfully secured his bond.
On February 4, 2026, after 110 days of unjust detention, our client was finally released and brought home to his daughter and his community.
The Importance of Community Defense
This victory is a testament to the power of relentless legal advocacy. When systems attempt to bypass due process, a dedicated defense is the only thing standing between a family’s unity and years of unjust separation.
Justice takes a community. To help us fight back against targeted operations and keep local families together, please consider supporting the SWIRC Legal Defense Fund.
