Wildland firefighter arrested and detained by ICE is released from custody with no further action against him

Rigoberto Hernandez Hernandez, a wildland firefighter, was released from ICE detention after nearly four weeks of being held while battling a wildfire in Washington state. His arrest has been criticized as illegal and a violation of due process by his attorneys, prompting them to file a habeas corpus petition. Following this filing, the government dismissed its proceedings to remove him, acknowledging no justification for the enforcement action. Hernandez has lived on the West Coast since he was four and worked as a firefighter for three years. He applied for a U-visa in 2018, which is still pending due to government delays.

In a statement, Hernandez expressed his gratitude to those who supported him during his detention. The incident has raised significant concerns within the wildland fire community about immigration enforcement practices that disrupt emergency responders. Legal experts argue this reflects broader issues within the immigration enforcement regime.