‘Overjoyed’: Dems Celebrate After Judge Frees Accused Woman Beater From ICE Detention

Several New Jersey Democratic lawmakers celebrated a Biden-appointed judge’s decision to release an illegal immigrant accused of brutally beating a woman from federal immigration detention.

U.S. District Court Judge Jamel Semper ordered the release of Martin Soto, who walked out of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Tuesday night. Soto gained national attention for leading a hunger strike at ICE’s Delaney Hall detention center earlier this year over alleged “inhumane” conditions.

For months, his wife, Gabriela Soto, has claimed that her husband “was abducted” by ICE officers while buying diapers in February. The narrative quickly unraveled after The Daily Wire uncovered a police report showing that ICE took custody of him after local police arrested him for an alleged domestic assault.

Soto challenged his immigration detention through a habeas petition, leading to his release, sources with knowledge of the case told The Daily Wire.

During the alleged assault, Soto “purposely” caused “bodily injury” to an unnamed female victim “specifically by using his hands, both opened and closed to strike” her “in her face, causing minor scratches and cuts to her face and neck,” according to the police report.

The Peruvian illegal immigrant then allegedly “placed a hand over” the victim’s “mouth so she could not scream for help,” the report said.

After Soto walked free Tuesday night, Democrats swiftly began rejoicing on X.

Rep. Rob Menendez (D-NJ) shared a video showing himself embracing Soto as he walked out of the detention center.

Menendez repeated the account contradicted by the police report, writing that “Martin was on his way to buy diapers for his children when he was apprehended by ICE,” and said that Martin “belongs” in New Jersey.

“Since that day, his wife Gaby has fought tirelessly to bring him home. And we’ve stood by her every step of the way. Tonight, Martin is finally coming home to his wife and children — right where he belongs,” Menendez wrote.

Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) posted a photo with Soto’s wife in which the senator was seen wearing a pin that read “Free Martin Soto.”

“I’ve stood with Gabriela Soto, an American citizen, as she fought to bring her husband home from ICE detention. Yesterday, Martin was finally released after 9 months away from his two young children and pregnant wife. He could not be there for Gaby as she endured a devastating late miscarriage,” Booker wrote.

“Martin is home, but the hardship this family endured cannot be undone. Delaney Hall should be closed. We will continue standing with Gaby and every family still waiting to be reunited,” he said.

Sen. Andy Kim (D-NJ) said he was “relieved” by the news of Soto’s release.

“I met with Martin back in May, and have spoken with Gabby multiple times since. As a father myself, I can’t begin to imagine what it’s been like for the Soto family to endure this cruel separation from one another,” Kim wrote.

He continued: “Through it all, Martin and Gabby have been brave, speaking out against ICE’s cruel policies and practices. I’m so glad that Martin Soto is finally home.”

Rep. Nellie Pou (D-NJ) said she was “overjoyed” to learn that Soto “is finally freed from ICE custody.”

“Martin was undeniably targeted and mistreated, being moved from Delaney Hall to the Elizabeth detention center and held in solitary confinement. For months my office has been pushing ICE to release Martin and tonight justice is finally being done. It should have happened months ago.”

“ICE remains out of control in our state and we must continue to oppose its rampant abuses,” she added.

Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-NJ), who is facing federal charges for allegedly assaulting ICE officers during a visit to Delaney Hall last year, celebrated the illegal immigrant’s release.

“I’m so happy Martin Soto has been reunited with his family. His wife, Gabriela fought for this—when we visited Delaney and Elizabeth to check on Martin she was always there, fighting. No one should endure what the Sotos experienced at the hands of ICE. As we celebrate Martin’s freedom, the fight to shut down Delaney and abolish ICE continues,” she wrote.

Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) used the moment to renew calls to “abolish ICE.”

“No one should suffer what Martin, Gabriela, and others have endured. Close Delaney Hall. Abolish ICE,” Coleman wrote.

Roughly 83,000 habeas petitions have been filed by ICE detainees since President Donald Trump’s second term began, according to ProPublica. That exceeds the number of habeas petitions filed over the last three administrations combined.

Habeas petitions move detainees’ cases out of the immigration court system and into the district courts, where judges have “a lot more remedies to give them than an immigration judge,” United States Attorney Timothy Courchaine previously told The Daily Wire.

Police records show that officers in Kearny, New Jersey, arrested Soto on February 1 for simple assault stemming from a domestic violence incident. On February 2, ICE agents went to the Hudson County Correctional Center and took Soto into federal custody.

ICE moved him to the detention center in Elizabeth in May.

Gabriela Soto told The Daily Wire in July via social media that she was “not aware” of the police report but confirmed it listed her husband’s information. Still, she denied the allegations of domestic abuse.

“My husband never got arrested by Kearny PD he left the house on February 1 at 530pm,” she wrote in an Instagram message. “I have messages and locations and everything for proof from that afternoon. And I have a call from Delaney Hall at 1030 ish at night when he called me.”

“My husband will NEVER do nothing to harm his family or his marriage,” she wrote. “I know exactly where he was and what he does and who he talks too [sic].”

More from this network:
Domains for Sale · GOTPeople.org · TheDSAPlatform · The Truth About Socialism

Donate to GOTPeople.org