Federal Judge Orders Release of South Sudan Immigrant From Iowa Jail, Calls DOJ Claims 'Hard to Take Seriously'

A federal judge has ordered the immediate release of an immigrant held in a Pottawattamie County jail, sharply criticizing the U.S. Department of Justice's arguments in the case as difficult to believe. The ruling marks another instance where federal courts have pushed back on government claims in immigration detention cases.

U.S. District Judge Stephen Locher ruled that the government failed to provide meaningful evidence that Nyamuoch Thomas Duoth, a South Sudan citizen, could actually be deported anytime soon. The judge's decision, issued July 16, requires immigration authorities to release Duoth immediately or return her to Iowa within 24 hours for release with her personal effects.

Who is Nyamuoch Thomas Duoth?

Duoth arrived in the United States as a refugee at age 4 in 1994, after being born in a refugee camp in Ethiopia. Her status was adjusted to lawful permanent resident in August 1995.

Court records show Duoth was convicted of multiple criminal offenses between 2008 and 2017, including resisting arrest, shoplifting, and assault on an officer. She served a prison sentence of two to four years for the assault conviction.

What happened in Duoth's immigration case?

In September 2020, an immigration judge ordered Duoth removed to South Sudan or, alternatively, Ethiopia. She was released from custody in May 2022 after authorities determined there was no significant likelihood the government could send her to either country.

However, in March 2025, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained Duoth again, claiming there was a significant likelihood of removal in the reasonably foreseeable future. Her removal order became final on Dec. 26, 2025.

After months in custody without deportation, Duoth filed a federal lawsuit against ICE, Homeland Security, and Pottawattamie County, seeking her immediate release.

Why did the judge rule against the government?

Judge Locher noted that Duoth had already been released in 2022 because there was no realistic path to deportation. Despite that, ICE detained her again in March 2025, and by July 2026, she still had not been removed.

The government told the court it was actively working with the State Department and Homeland Security on removal to a third country, but provided no specifics. Locher wrote that the government offered no meaningful evidence about the likelihood of Ethiopia accepting Duoth or providing travel documents.

Regarding the government's argument that Duoth's criminal history justified continued detention, Locher said this argument is hard to take seriously. He noted her convictions dated back to 2017 or earlier, and she had been free in the community without incident for most of the years since.

What happens next?

Duoth's attorneys are now asking the court to order the federal government to reimburse their fees and expenses. The case adds to a growing number of federal rulings expressing skepticism about government claims in immigration enforcement.

For Iowa residents, this case highlights ongoing questions about how immigration detention decisions are made and whether federal agencies are providing adequate justification for holding individuals in local jails.