N.J. father held by ICE five Weeks despite deportation stay

(NEW JERSEY) A New Jersey father was detained by ICE at the Elizabeth Detention Center through June 2025, spending at least five weeks in custody while his family feared a transfer or deportation. Advocates said a deportation stay was sought in his case, raising questions about how quickly Immigration and Customs Enforcement pauses removals once legal protections are in place. Facing ongoing detention and limited answers, he chose to self-deport, ending weeks of distress for his wife and three young children.

Despite social media posts claiming he was detained for five months after a stay, there is no confirmed record that a formal court-ordered stay had been granted for that entire period. What is clear, according to local community groups tracking the matter, is that prolonged detention in New Jersey can continue even when attorneys file for stays or other relief, leaving families unsure when a release might follow or whether a transfer to a distant facility will occur.

Family impact and detention conditions

The Elizabeth Detention Center has long drawn scrutiny for extended holds and conditions, especially for people with long ties to New Jersey communities. Families often wait hours for visits and worry their loved one could be moved without notice. In this case, relatives treated each meeting as if it might be the last. After weeks of uncertainty, the father accepted removal on his own — a choice some make to avoid open-ended custody.

When a judge or federal court grants a deportation stay, ICE is required to halt removal for the named person. In practice, lawyers and advocacy groups report that detention can continue while officers run background checks, complete internal reviews, or process paperwork. Those steps can take days or even weeks. During that time, families in New Jersey are left with few updates. VisaVerge.com reports that delayed releases after stays have become a common complaint in the region.

“People should not remain detained by ICE once a lawful pause on removal is in place,” advocates argue, pointing to gaps in communication and long waits that can separate parents from U.S. citizen children.

National scrutiny and local advocacy

Nationally, ICE faced criticism in 2025 for removals and detentions that, according to advocates, cut off access to counsel or kept parents far from their children. In April, several high-profile cases drew attention to gaps in communication with lawyers and mixed messages about case status. While the agency often cites security reviews and flight logistics, rights groups say those reasons do not justify extended custody once a stay is issued.

There have been no publicized changes this year to ICE detention policy in New Jersey regarding stays. But legal organizations, including the AMICA Center and the ACLU, have pressed for faster release protocols after a stay is issued. Their recommendations include:

• Clear timelines for release after a stay is granted
• Written notices to families and attorneys
• Regular updates while administrative checks are pending
• Stricter oversight of transfers to far-off facilities

Advocates say transfers to distant facilities can isolate detainees from counsel and children, worsening outcomes for families.

Family and economic consequences

For families, the stakes are immediate and personal. Many detained parents are primary earners, and even a few weeks without work can collapse a household budget. Consequences often include:

• Rent falling behind
• Children missing school activities
• Remaining caregivers juggling extra shifts and long visits to detention centers

In the New Jersey case, relatives said the decision to self-deport came after prolonged stress and uncertainty about whether a release would come under a pending request for protection.

ICE response and attorneys’ views

ICE did not issue a public statement on this specific case. Generally, the agency says officers must:

• Confirm identity
• Check security databases
• Ensure court orders match the specific person before release

Officials contend these steps protect the public and the person in custody. Attorneys counter that those tasks can often be completed without keeping people detained for long stretches, especially when a court has signaled that removal should stop.

Practical steps for families and lawyers

Families checking a loved one’s status in New Jersey can use the ICE Detainee Locator to confirm custody and the A-number. The tool at https://locator.ice.gov helps lawyers plan visits or file motions with the correct court. Advocates also suggest:

• Keeping copies of any stay order and requesting detention staff place the order in the detainee’s file
• Documenting each call and visit in case complaints are needed later

Attorneys in New Jersey say several actions can shorten custody when a stay is pending:

1. Request parole from ICE’s Newark field office on humanitarian or low-flight-risk grounds.
2. Seek an order of supervision to allow release with check-ins or monitoring.
3. File a comprehensive packet showing housing plans, medical needs, and school ties.

These steps do not guarantee release, but complete documentation and local sponsors can speed reviews once a stay reaches the file.

How stays are issued and why delays happen

Stays can come from multiple sources:

• An immigration judge (for motions to reopen or reconsider)
• The Board of Immigration Appeals
• A federal appeals court (staying removal while reviewing a petition)

Each route involves different timelines and paperwork. The core idea, however, remains: once a stay applies, removal should stop. The dispute in New Jersey — advocates say — is how long detention continues after that point.

Policy developments and outlook

In Congress, lawmakers have proposed measures for tighter reporting on detention lengths after stays, but no major reform had passed as of August 2025. The Department of Homeland Security has promoted voluntary departure programs, but those do not resolve the central issue for people who want to remain with their families in the United States 🇺🇸 while their cases proceed.

The New Jersey father’s case illustrates how process gaps can upend family life even without a confirmed months-long hold after a formal stay. Attorneys in Newark say they will keep pressing for:

• Prompt releases after stays are granted
• Stronger notice rules for families and counsel
• Better coordination between field offices and detention staff

For now, the lesson is stark: even with a deportation stay sought or granted, people can remain detained by ICE for days or weeks, and decisions made under that pressure can shape a family’s future for years.