Judge orders release of Park City immigrant whose detention prompted outcry

SALT LAKE CITY — An immigration judge has ordered the release of a Park City man whose detention by immigration agents last month prompted a strong outpouring from his friends and family.

Lisandro Pantaleon Pacheco, brought to the United States from Mexico by his parents when he was 1, was detained on April 29 while headed to work in Park City, where he and his family live. Family, friends and his girlfriend, Britney Xiques, subsequently rallied around the man, publicly calling attention to his case and decrying his detention.

His legal representatives filed a petition for his release based on their assertion that authorities didn't have legitimate grounds to keep him in custody and an immigration judge on Thursday let him go.

Federal officials "shall not impose any additional restrictions on petitioner, unless that is determined to be necessary at a future pre-deprivation/custody hearing," reads the court order. He was being held in an immigration detention facility in California City, California.

The case, part of President Donald Trump's ongoing crackdown on illegal immigration, was particularly unusual, said Pantaleon's Utah lawyer, Adam Crayk, because the judge didn't order a hearing to determine if Pantaleon should post bond before release. The judge "was really bothered by the fact that he has no criminal history, no identifying characteristics that set him apart as a danger or anything like that, so she just simply ordered him immediately released," Crayk said.

Though Pantaleon, 22, entered the United States from Mexico "without inspection" — that is, without proper clearance from an immigration official — he grew up in Park City. His family stressed his clean record, deep U.S. roots and upbeat nature. Crayk suspects he was targeted by the officials who detained him because he's Latino.

Immigration officials didn't immediately respond to a query Thursday seeking comment.

Going forward, Crayk understands Pantaleon and Xiques, a U.S. citizen, will get married and that the man will apply for U.S. residency. "I don't see any reason why he doesn't become a resident. There's basically not much in his way now," Crayk said.

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