Iowa judge blocks ICE’s efforts to deport Bolivian man to Congo

By: Clark Kauffman

Outlets: Iowa Capital Dispatch

Published: April 8, 2026

Words: 863

Last Updated: 5 days, 12 hours ago

Body Text Preview

A Bolivian asylum seeker who was unlawfully jailed in Muscatine County before his release in January now faces deportation to Congo.

Attorneys for José Yugar-Cruz, 36, say their client was detained Wednesday by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents who now plan to deport him to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

By midday, Yugar-Cruz’s attorneys had filed an emergency motion in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, seeking to immediately block ICE’s …

Create a free account to access this story and more

Join Plucky Wire to access full stories, collaborate with newsrooms, and discover content from networks around the world.

Email Us