South Orange Mayor Sheena Collum is reporting that three of the (at least) six men who were arrested by federal immigration agents in South Orange and Maplewood in recent weeks have been released from detention.
On August 12, Collum announced that two men — Edgar and Miguel, who were arrested on Oakland Road in Maplewood on August 7 — had been released due to the work of Detention and Deportation Defense Initiative (DDDI) attorneys Rachel Salazar and Olivia Kaplan, who filed habeas petitions for the two men.
Collum explained the habeas petitions as follows: “Like many of you, I’ve unfortunately had to learn a lot about this process along the way, so I wanted to share a little context on what a habeas petition actually is if you don’t fully understand it. It is one of the most fundamental protections we have against unlawful government detention. Put simply, it asks a federal court to step in and determine whether the government has the legal authority to keep someone locked up.”
Collum continued, “In these cases, habeas petitions have been filed and continue to be filed, challenging ICE’s authority to hold these individuals. Two have already been released, hopefully with more to come. Their immigration cases will continue, but their release matters. It is an important reminder that the federal government’s power to detain people is not unlimited. When the government cannot lawfully justify keeping someone in custody, our courts have the authority to intervene and order their release. That check on government power is exactly why habeas corpus exists.”
On August 13, Collum announced that a third man, Tonny Quesada-Ramirez, also known as Tony, had also been released following a habeas filing.
Tonny Quesada-Ramirez and family
Quesada-Ramirez was arrested on August 7 on Tichenor Avenue in South Orange and was being detained in Delaney Hall in Newark.
Village Green reached out to Newark ICE field office for information on Quesada-Ramirez, Edgar and Miguel, and Perla Seafood & Raw Bar sous chef Omar Alvarez who was reported arrested on August 7 on his way to work.
On August 12, a Dept. of Homeland Security spokesperson responded with information about Quesada-Ramirez, but not the other men: “On August 7, 2026, ICE arrested Tonny Quesada Ramirez, an illegal alien from Costa Rica, during a targeted enforcement operation in South Orange, New Jersey. Border Patrol encountered him on June 13, 2001, after entering the country illegally, and he was taken into ICE custody. On June 24, 2001, he was released from ICE custody on a promise to appear in court, and on October 16, 2001, he was ordered removed for failing to appear. On October 24, 2010, ICE arrested him again, and on March 7, 2011, he was released from ICE custody on bond. He will remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings. To be clear, work authorization or a pending application do NOT confer legal status in the United States.”
Village Green has followed up with questions to the spokesperson asking if Quesada-Ramirez has a criminal history other than illegal entry or failure to appear, or if he has a work authorization or pending application. We will update the story when we receive a response.
The spokesperson’s initial response continued, “Being in detention is a choice. We encourage all illegal aliens to take control of their departure with the CBP Home App. The United States is offering illegal aliens $2,600 and a free flight to self-deport now. We encourage every person here illegally to take advantage of this offer and reserve the chance to come back to the U.S. the right legal way to live the American dream. If not, you will be arrested and deported without a chance to return.”
But on August 13, Collum announced Quesada-Ramirez’s release.
“Tonny Quesada Ramirez (a 22-year South Orange resident) is now home with his beautiful family after a successful habeas corpus petition resulted in his release. I spoke to him just a little while ago, and he wanted me to pass along to everyone that ‘he loves you all,’ ‘thank you so much for helping my family and me’ and ‘God bless you.’ He went on to say how special our community is, and I certainly can’t argue with that.”
“We’ve got your back, Tonny,” wrote Collum.
Village Green will continue to follow this story.
From South Orange Mayor Sheena Collum on August 12, 2026:
Neighbors, two of the men taken by ICE in SOMA on Friday have been released from Delaney Hall following the filing of habeas petitions. This is in no small part thanks to the talent, urgency, and incredible work of Rachel Salazar and Olivia Kaplan, both DDDI attorneys, who moved very quickly on their behalf. Another individual they are assisting, for whom they have filed a habeas petition, had already been granted relief many years ago in immigration court and is now in custody living this nightmare.
Like many of you, I’ve unfortunately had to learn a lot about this process along the way, so I wanted to share a little context on what a habeas petition actually is if you don’t fully understand it. It is one of the most fundamental protections we have against unlawful government detention. Put simply, it asks a federal court to step in and determine whether the government has the legal authority to keep someone locked up.
In these cases, habeas petitions have been filed and continue to be filed, challenging ICE’s authority to hold these individuals. Two have already been released, hopefully with more to come. Their immigration cases will continue, but their release matters. It is an important reminder that the federal government’s power to detain people is not unlimited. When the government cannot lawfully justify keeping someone in custody, our courts have the authority to intervene and order their release. That check on government power is exactly why habeas corpus exists.
And thank you (again) to Matthew Bloom, who has become quite the behind-the-scenes connector, causing all sorts of good trouble along the way.
Next, I’m updating the GoFundMe links below to include a new fundraiser just launched for Yobani, who was taken on Tichenor Avenue in South Orange on Friday. Many neighbors reached out to me asking about “Giovanni,” and I later learned that Yobani’s name is pronounced that way. I know many of you know him very well from the exceptional work he has done in homes throughout our community, so please help us build momentum for this new fundraiser. There is no such thing as a small donation. Every single dollar counts. His employer and fellow work colleagues are also helping out to get him home.
Lastly, a resident reached out to alert me to an additional GoFundMe for Alex, who was taken in late July in Maplewood and is the father of four young children. Heartbreaking. I’ve added his fundraiser below as well.
Yobani: https://gofund.me/213ed430c **NEW GoFundMe just launched, consider starting here if you haven’t donated or can donate more** Tonny: https://gofund.me/7ba964b96 Edgar & Miguel: https://gofund.me/d1cbe7c33And kudos to everyone who was out protesting this morning. I’m sorry I couldn’t join you, but I was there in spirit. With the midterms around the corner, we need to carry this same energy forward by standing up, speaking out, supporting our neighbors, and ultimately showing up at the ballot box. We have the power to put a stop to this madness.
And if you’re not thinking about the midterms yet, please start thinking about them now. I wouldn’t be surprised if more and more communities across New Jersey experience these abuses as we head toward November. And because apparently a gun and a Taser aren’t enough, ICE is now moving to equip officers with “electric shock gloves”…
Let that sink in.
I have to end on a note of sincere and profound gratitude for the unmatched generosity of our community and the way neighbors have harnessed our collective energy online. Together, more than 1,400 people have contributed over $115,000 to support these families. That is extraordinary.
