Federal Judge Stays Deportation After ICE Re-Detains Family Linked to Deadly Colorado Attack

Federal Judge Fred Biery stays the removal of the El Gamal family after ICE re-detains them in Texas. Read the latest on this ongoing immigration legal battle.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 26, 2026, 4:40 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Times of Israel

The Swift Escalation of Federal Custody

United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents moved to re-detain the family of an Egyptian national accused of a fatal June 2025 attack, according to statements from their legal representatives. The family, including Hayam El Gamal and her five children, had been at liberty for only a few days following nearly 10 months of incarceration. According to attorney Eric Lee, federal authorities indicated that deportation for the group was imminent at the time of the seizure, marking a sharp reversal of their brief period of freedom.

A Judicial Intervention Halts Immediate Removal

The momentum toward deportation was interrupted later in the day when U.S. District Judge Fred Biery intervened with a formal stay of removal. This legal directive ensures that the El Gamal family remains within the United States while their attorneys navigate the complexities of the justice system through further petitions. According to Chris Godshall-Bennett, another member of the family's legal team, efforts are currently focused on securing their return home following the judge's order to cease the removal process.

The Legal Conflict Surrounding Personal Liberty

The family had previously been released from a detention facility in Dilley, Texas, on Thursday, following a magistrate judge's recommendation that was endorsed by Judge Biery. During those proceedings, the court dismissed government arguments suggesting the family represented a flight risk or a threat to public safety. As a condition of that initial release, El Gamal and her eldest daughter, Habiba Soliman, were required to utilize electronic monitoring devices, reflecting the court’s attempt to balance liberty with federal oversight.