Published July 14, 2026 at 2:04 PM ET · Updated July 15, 2026 at 4:02 AM ET
Judge orders release of plane hijacking suspect awaiting deportation
2 independent outlets are covering this story. Verification: Corroborated — reported by at least two independent outlets. Patriot Watch links to original reporting; we don't republish it.
A judge ordered the release of a plane hijacking suspect who was awaiting deportation. The source headlines identify the suspect as Cuban and say the judge was appointed by Clinton.
Patriot Watch first flagged this story 1 d ago, when The Post Millennial reported it. Coverage has since grown to 2 independent outlets. The most recent report came 19 hr ago from Twitchy. Verification tier: Corroborated — reported by at least two independent outlets.
⚖ The Constitutional Angle
Zadvydas v. Kim Ho Ma held that post-removal-period detention may last only as long as reasonably necessary to carry out removal, and does not permit indefinite detention. After six months, if removal is not significantly likely soon, the government must rebut that or release under supervision.
Zadvydas v. Kim Ho Ma) 533 U.S. 678 (2001)
Vote: 5-4 · Opinion: Justice Stephen G. Breyer
8 U.S.C. § 1231(a)(6), read in light of the Constitution's demands, limits an alien's post-removal-period detention to a period reasonably necessary to bring about that alien's removal from the United States; it 'does not permit indefinite detention.' The Court adopted six months as the presumptively reasonable detention period: after six months, once the alien provides good reason to believe there is no significant likelihood of removal in the reasonably foreseeable future, the government must rebut that showing or release the alien (under supervision).
Precedent facts from the PW Law Library — primary-source verified & independently audited
