U.S. Judge Orders Release of Iranian Bodybuilder Detained for Months

Tue Dec 16 2025 13:55:23 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Hamid Ziaei, an Iranian migrant and bodybuilder, has been ordered released from a U.S. immigration facility after five months of detention without progress on his deportation, during which he faced severe health issues and panic attacks.

Hamid Ziaei, who entered the U.S. fleeing persecution in Iran, was detained for over five months despite no clear path for his deportation. A federal judge in New Mexico has ruled for his release, noting violations of due process during Ziaei's prolonged detention, which has adversely affected his health and livelihood as an athlete.

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A federal judge has ordered the release of Hamid Ziaei, an Iranian migrant and former bodybuilder, who has been detained by U.S. immigration authorities for over five months. Ziaei's attorneys argued he was being held without a clear path for deportation to any country, particularly fearing persecution if returned to Iran.

The judge's ruling came after Ziaei’s legal team highlighted due process violations during his extended detention at a facility in New Mexico. He was taken into custody during a check-in with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in California in June.

Rachel Landry, a staff attorney at Innovation Law Lab representing Ziaei, stated, The (U.S.) government provided no evidence that there was any likelihood of Mr. Ziaei’s removal in the reasonable, foreseeable future.

According to court documents, Ziaei fled Iran after advocating against the government and entered the U.S. in January 2024. Although his asylum request was rejected, he was granted temporary release with work authorization in mid-2024 due to fears of persecution if returned to Iran, a status that is more rare than regular asylum outcomes.

Prior to his detention, Ziaei built a life for himself in Irvine, California, working in elderly care, food delivery, and fitness training until he was re-arrested.

In a statement, Ziaei expressed the impact of his detention on his health, experiencing anxiety, panic attacks, and delayed dental care for infections, leading to significant weight loss that could hinder his athletic career.

Although immigration authorities indicated a possibility of coordinating his removal to a third country, the prolonged detention without a clear resolution has raised concerns about legality, especially in light of a 2001 Supreme Court ruling allowing such detentions to last for only six months without action.

U.S. District Court Judge Matthew Garcia is expected to issue an official order releasing Ziaei within 24 hours, following the noted due process infringements during his captivity.