In brief
A Chicago immigration judge has ordered the release of Ruben Torres Maldonado on a $2,000 bond, allowing him to be with his family while his daughter, Ofelia, undergoes treatment for a rare form of cancer. Torres Maldonado was detained while working at Home Depot and has been seeking permanent residency since his arrest. His family expressed gratitude for the support received during this challenging time.
CHICAGO (AP) — A Chicago man whose 16-year-old daughter is undergoing treatment for advanced cancer will be released on bond, an immigration judge ruled Thursday. Attorneys for Ruben Torres Maldonado, a 40-year-old painter, petitioned for his release as his deportation case progresses. Judge Eva S. Saltzman granted the request, citing Maldonado’s clean criminal record and permitting him to return to his family home under a $2,000 bond. His daughter, Ofelia Torres, was diagnosed with metastatic alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare and aggressive cancer, for which she has been receiving chemotherapy and radiation treatment since December. Ofelia expressed her eagerness to see her father, stating, “We need him to be at home with me and our family.” Torres Maldonado is also applying for U.S. permanent residency. The decision followed weeks of heightened enforcement by federal immigration agents in Chicago, amidst growing concerns over due process rights. U.S. District Judge Jeremy Daniel had previously called Torres Maldonado’s detention illegal, yet noted limitations on his ability to order immediate release.
