Judge orders release of mom and five children from immigration detention

ImmigrationJudge orders release of mom and five children from immigration detentionHayam El Gamal, whose ex-husband was accused of an attack on protesters in Colorado, and her family have been held at a facility in Dilley, Texas, longer than any other family.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00Hayam El Gamal and her five children have been held at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center since June, the longest of any family.Laura Brett / Sipa USA via Reuters ConnectShareAdd NBC News to GoogleApril 23, 2026, 12:59 PM EDTBy Suzanne GamboaSAN ANTONIO — A federal judge on Thursday ordered the release of Hayam El Gamal and her five children, who have been held in immigration detention in Dilley, Texas, for more than 10 months — longer than any other family detained there under the administration’s mass deportation agenda. Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.El Gamal's ex-husband, the children's father, was charged in a fatal antisemitic firebombing attack in Colorado. The children range in age from 5 to 18.U.S. District Judge Fred Biery of the Western District of Texas ordered their release.El Gamal’s attorney, Eric Lee, told reporters he was “thrilled to pieces” as he exited the courtroom on his way to the detention center where the family is being held. Lee said they’ll have to wear ankle monitors but at least "they’ll be home." As he was rushing out of the elevator, he could be heard saying "we won" as he spoke into his cell phone. Christopher Godshall-Bennett, who represented Habiba Soliman, 18, the oldest of El Gamal's children, said after the ruling that "children should not be in jail." "It's really heartening there's still a sliver of justice," a visibly emotional Godshall-Bennett said, adding they came "so close" to getting out several times over the past several months. On Monday, a federal magistrate recommended the family be released “under conditions sufficient to ensure their p...