by Tara BrolleyWed, May 20, 2026 at 1:36 PMUpdated Wed, May 20, 2026 at 10:33 PMA judge has ordered the release of an Austin high school senior who was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement earlier this month, days before his scheduled graduation. (Photo: Luis's family)AUSTIN, Texas — A judge has ordered the release of an Austin high school senior who was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement earlier this month, days before his scheduled graduation.U.S. District Judge Jason Pulliam granted a petition for writ of habeas corpus Wednesday in the case of Luis Fernando Cabrera, 18, ordering that he be released from custody no later than May 22. The order also prohibits any removal or transfer of Cabrera while the detention order is in effect.Cabrera, a senior at Northeast Early College High School, was detained May 1 following a Texas Department of Public Safety traffic stop for expired registration. He has been held at the Karnes Detention Center.U.S. Rep. Greg Casar, D-Austin, who had demanded Cabrera's release and visited him at Karnes earlier this week, praised the ruling."This is a good day for Austin," Casar said. "Luis Fernando Cabrera belongs on the graduation stage, not in a detention facility."Petition for Writ of Habeas CorpusPDF previewView PDFPREVIOUS COVERAGE | Austin soccer goalie says he was shackled after stop; supporters rally for his releaseThe Department of Homeland Security previously said Cabrera illegally entered the United States in 2019 near Eagle Pass and would remain in custody pending immigration proceedings. Supporters say the family has a pending asylum case tied to alleged threats from a government official in Mexico.Cabrera told CBS Austin in a phone interview from inside the detention center that he feared being sent back to Mexico."They want to deport me to a country I can't go back to because I fear for my life," he said.The court order directs federal authorities to notify Cabrera's attorneys of the time and location of his release at least two hours in advance and to file a status report confirming his release the following business day.