Judge says former MPS aide can return to the US, ICE actions 'likely unlawful'

A California federal judge ruled that Yessenia Ruano, a Milwaukee teacher's aide, can return to the United States to await a decision on her T visa application, and ICE cannot deport her during that period. Judge Andre Birotte described the policy of deporting people with pending visa cases as 'likely unlawful' and a 'blind removal policy' that bypassed USCIS input. Ruano arrived in 2011 fleeing gang violence and has U.S.-born twin daughters. The ruling comes in a lawsuit by eight individuals and two immigrant-rights groups challenging the 2025 policy change that stripped protections for pending visa applications.