A federal judge in Minnesota ordered the U.S. government to take reasonable steps to arrange the return of Kenis Adalberto López González, a Nicaraguan national sent to the Central African Republic. The preliminary injunction, issued October 30, 2026, addresses the limits of federal detention authority and judicial oversight after removal to a third country.
Background
An immigration judge previously granted López González withholding of removal to Nicaragua. That protection prohibits removal to the designated country but does not automatically prevent removal to every other country. After living in Minnesota under immigration supervision, he was detained in January 2026 and transferred to the Central African Republic in August.
His attorneys challenged the legality of his detention and subsequent removal. The government argued that the overseas transfer affected the federal court's ability to provide relief. U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Bryan disagreed at this preliminary stage.
What the order requires
The government was directed to take reasonable steps within its control to facilitate his return to Minnesota and pay the associated travel costs. The order also required contact with counsel by November 4, a return authorization request by November 6, and weekly progress reports beginning November 6.
The decision does not grant permanent residence, invalidate all third-country removals, or resolve every question in the underlying immigration case. It is an interim order while litigation continues.
Why it matters
The case highlights the distinction between withholding of removal to a particular country and the legal procedures required for detention and removal elsewhere. It also illustrates that transfer abroad does not necessarily end a federal court's ability to examine an immigration detention challenge.
Sources: Counsel's summary of the order; MPR News.