Federal judges in Washington and Texas ordered the release of two mothers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody in May 2026, following months of detention that the courts determined violated constitutional due process rights and lacked legal justification.In Albany, Oregon, Maria Loya Medina was released on May 8 after a federal judge found an immigration judge abused his discretion by denying her bond. Medina, a mother of two U.S. citizens and primary caregiver for her ill husband, had been held for four months after being arrested by federal agents on Jan. 10 while purchasing socks for her son. U.S. District Judge Grady J. Leupold criticized the previous denial of bond, noting that no impartial decision-maker would conclude such a denial was warranted based on the evidence presented. Medina has lived in the United States since 2005 and has no criminal record in Oregon. "No reasonable and impartial decision-maker presented with the facts and evidence of Petitioner’s case would conclude denial of bond was warranted," wrote Judge Grady J. Leupold.The judge noted that the previous immigration judge, John O’Dell, improperly relied on Medina's 1998 immigration history and her use of a false Social Security number for work. Leupold highlighted that there was no evidence Medina attempted to flee or evade arrest during her January encounter with agents."The Court therefore concludes that the IJ abused discretion in denying bond and that Petitioner’s continued detention pursuant to that determination violates due process," Leupold added. Legal representatives for Medina expressed frustration over the logistics of her release following the court order. Attorney Stephen W. Manning criticized the Department of Homeland Security for the delay in processing her exit from the Northwest Detention Center.“Maria spent another night separated from her family in violation of the Constitution and the judge’s order,” said Stephen W. Manning, an attorney at Innovation Law Lab and co-counsel on the case. “While ICE operates a 24/7 arrest machine, it only bothers to comply with the Constitution and court orders during banker’s hours.”The legal team celebrated the final outcome but maintained that the detention should never have occurred. Senior staff attorney José G. Miranda emphasized that the federal court's decision served as accountability for ICE's actions. "Maria was separated from her family for months, because ICE refused to follow the law. We are vindicated by the federal court’s decision to hold ICE to account and free her," Miranda said.The emotional impact on the family was reflected in statements from Medina's husband, Serapio Herrera. He noted that the return of his wife would finally make their family complete again after her long absence."My children and I will be complete with my wife at home. Truly, I have no words to describe how happy we are," he added. Political support followed the ruling as well. U.S. Representative Suzanne Bonamici, who had personally visited Medina during her detention in Tacoma, condemned the aggressive tactics used by federal authorities.“I’m grateful that Maria will finally be home with her family and will begin to recover from the anxiety caused by this egregious ICE overreach. Like too many others across the country, Maria has had her life completely disrupted by the President’s illegal and aggressive tactics. I will continue to fight these inhumane policies and actions with policy and protest and in the legal system," Bonamici said.In a separate case in Texas, Meenu Batra, a 53-year-old single mother of four, was released after spending 45 days in ICE custody. A federal judge ruled she had been detained for "no discernible reason" following her arrest on March 17 at a Texas airport while traveling for work. Batra, who was born in India and has lived legally in the U.S. for decades, described the psychological toll of her time at the El Valle Detention Facility. She stated that the experience makes a person feel less than human."No one is safe," Meenu Batra said in an exclusive interview with CBS News.Despite her ordeal, she maintained a level of hope regarding her legal standing. Batra fled to the U.S. as a teenager following religious violence in India and holds "withholding of removal" status, with a potential path to citizenship through her son's military service. "I believe in the system. I believe I have the documents," Batra added.During her detention, Batra attempted to explain her legal status to the arresting officers. She recalled informing them that she possessed the necessary documentation to prove her right to be in the country."They told me you're here illegally," Batra previously told CBS News while in detention at El Valle Detention Facility in Raymondville, Texas, which is located near the U.S.-Mexico border. "And I said, 'No, sir, I have my documents with me, in my bag right now.'"Batra also reflected on the other women she met while in custody. She challenged the narrative that the administration's enforcement is solely focused on violent criminals."you become small. You start to believe that perhaps you are not equal, that you are not human," Batra said.The impact of the detention extended to Batra's children, who remain hyper-vigilant since her return. She described her daughter's constant fear that authorities might return to take her mother away again."My daughter doesn't sleep at night time," Batra said. "She keeps watch on me. Anytime a car passes by, she becomes fearful that somebody is here to … get you."In response to her release, the Department of Homeland Security issued a statement labeling Batra an "illegal alien" and criticizing the judge who ordered her release. Batra found the agency's characterization of the judiciary and immigrants to be offensive."They forget that aliens are humans and humans have rights," she said.