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Federal judge orders release of Lewiston asylum seeker from ICE facility

Photo: 560 WGAN Newsradio, Associated Press


A federal judge has ordered the release of a Lewiston man from ICE custody.

Eduardo Alves is an asylum seeker who was detained last week and is now back home, according to his attorney.

In a ruling, the judge said moving Alves to the Plymouth County Correctional Center in Massachusetts defied a court order and left him without easy access to attorneys.

According to the Portland Press Herald, the judge also questioned whether or not agents had a valid warrant for Alves’ arrest and a search of his home.

Federal authorities said there are no other appropriate facilities in Maine to hold Alves.

ICE stopped using the Cumberland County Jail to hold its detainees.