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Judge Orders DHS Explain Hidden Dominican Murder Warrant, Threatens Contempt

5/6/2026

23 2 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

On May 4 U.S. District Judge Melissa R. DuBose ordered the Department of Homeland Security to explain its failure to disclose a Dominican murder warrant and warned of contempt sanctions.
On May 5 she referred the agency’s conduct to a committee, ordered Bryan Rafael Gómez’s detention, and set a bond hearing.
Attorney Kevin Bolan apologized, saying he was instructed not to disclose the warrant because Dominican officials had not approved it.

History

Historical Context

President Bill Clinton signed the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act in 1996, expanding Attorney-General detention powers, mandating $1.5 billion for ICE and limiting judicial review of foreign warrants. Today, U.S. District Judge Melissa R. DuBose has ordered DHS to disclose a concealed Dominican murder warrant, reviving debate over the act’s secrecy provisions and calls for congressional reform.

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Story summary

On May 4 U.S. District Judge Melissa R. DuBose ordered the Department of Homeland Security to explain its failure to disclose a Dominican murder warrant and warned of contempt sanctions.
On May 5 she referred the agency’s conduct to a committee, ordered Bryan Rafael Gómez’s detention, and set a bond hearing.
Attorney Kevin Bolan apologized, saying he was instructed not to disclose the warrant because Dominican officials had not approved it.

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