Judge Orders Release of Dentist From ICE Custody

A federal judge ruled that ICE's arrest and detention of a Mississauga-born dentist in Minnesota violated constitutional protections.

Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Immigration

Judge Orders Release of Dentist From ICE Custody

U.S. District Judge Michael J. Davis ordered the release of William Virgil Lizardo, a 32-year-old dentist from Mississauga, Ontario, from ICE detention no later than 6 p.m. Sunday. Davis ruled the arrest and detention violated the Fourth and Fifth Amendments.

Why it matters

The ruling bars the government from detaining, transferring, or removing Lizardo without court permission, and it arose from an immigration notice sent to an outdated address. The case highlights how address discrepancies in immigration records can lead to detention and removal orders issued in a person's absence.

Judge Davis ordered Lizardo released on his own recognizance after granting his petition for a writ of habeas corpus. The government must show by clear and convincing evidence that conditions of release could not reasonably ensure his appearance, a standard the court applied in ordering his release.

The players

Michael J. Davis

Michael J. Davis is a U.S. District Judge who ruled that the arrest and detention of William Virgil Lizardo violated constitutional protections and ordered his release.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is the federal agency responsible for immigration enforcement and detention, which arrested and held Lizardo.

The details

Lizardo entered the United States in 2019 on an F-1 student visa and graduated from the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry in 2023. After USCIS denied his permanent residence application in January 2026, DHS issued a Notice to Appear for a March 26 hearing, which Lizardo did not attend because the notice was sent to an address that conflicted with more recent USCIS records.

2019: Lizardo enters the U.S. on an F-1 student visa.
2023: Lizardo graduates from the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry.
January 2026: USCIS denies his application for permanent residence.
October 23: ICE agents arrest Lizardo after an immigration interview in St. Paul.
October 28: Immigration court rescinds the removal order after finding he lacked notice.

Legal Context

The ruling applies the Fourth and Fifth Amendments to an immigration arrest, extending constitutional protections against unreasonable seizure and deprivation of liberty without due process to a detention rooted in an address error. It places the case within ongoing federal court review of immigration detention practices.

Immigrants who relocate should confirm their current address with USCIS, because notices sent to outdated addresses can trigger removal proceedings without the person's knowledge. The ruling shows that a court can order release when detention rests on a procedural notice failure.

The takeaway

Keeping address information current with USCIS can prevent missed hearings and removal orders issued in absentia. Individuals facing immigration proceedings should verify that the government holds their correct contact details.