Hundreds protested this Venezuelan's detention by ICE. Now he's free after seven months

"A Venezuelan migrant whose detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) sparked a protest that involved nearly 2,000 people and led to 30 arrests is free after spending seven months in custody in Washington state, after a ruling from a federal judge who said his constitutional rights had been violated. Joswar Torres, 29, was granted humanitarian parole in the United States and had an asylum application pending,"

"but was nevertheless detained in June 2025 after a routine check-in at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) office in Spokane, Washington. The case garnered national attention after protesters attempted to block an ICE transport that carried Torres and another migrant to Tacoma. The protest turned contentious at times, with a government car's windshield smashed and tire slashed, but for the most part it was peaceful, with demonstrators linking arms as they faced down masked federal agents."

"A month after the protest, federal prosecutors took the unusual step of bringing conspiracy charges against nine of the demonstrators. Legal experts said the episode marked an escalation in the Trump administration's crackdown on first amendment rights. Richard Barker, a career justice department prosecutor, resigned as acting US attorney for eastern Washington state rather than sign the indictments. No one was hurt, Barker said."

Joswar Torres, a 29-year-old Venezuelan migrant granted humanitarian parole with an asylum application pending, was detained after a routine DHS check-in in Spokane. A federal judge later found his constitutional rights were violated and ordered his release after seven months in custody. Nearly 2,000 people protested the detention, resulting in 30 arrests and some property damage during attempts to block an ICE transport to Tacoma. Federal prosecutors brought conspiracy charges against nine demonstrators, prompting the acting U.S. attorney for eastern Washington to resign rather than sign indictments. Legal actions and injunctions followed, and at least one charged protester pleaded not guilty.

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