SEATTLE — The Department of Justice has settled a claim filed by a Des Moines, Washington, man who was arrested and detained by immigration agents in 2017 despite his protected status as a recipient of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals status.
The settlement does not involve a payout to 29-year-old Daniel Ramirez Medina, but requires U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials to issue him a four-year “stay of removal” from the United States, according to a news release from U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. During that time, Ramirez Medina can apply for other immigration status or relief from deportation.
The settlement includes a stipulation that ICE officials cannot allege that Ramirez Medina, who was born in Mexico, is a gang member or a threat to public safety — unfounded allegations that immigration officials relied on to take him into custody in the first place. In essence, the settlement is a reset for Ramirez Medina to his status before his arrest and detention.
