Full Breakdown
Rhode Island Judge Accuses DHS of Withholding Murder Warrant in ICE Detainee Release
5/6/2026, 5:39:13 AM
The Contempt Hearing and Alleged Withholding
On May 4, 2026, U.S. District Judge Melissa R. DuBose held a hearing to determine whether the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Justice Department violated a court order by failing to disclose a Dominican Republic homicide warrant for ICE detainee Bryan Rafael Gómez. The judge noted that DHS subsequently issued an April 30 press release labeling her an “activist” judge who released a “wanted murderer,” and she is considering contempt sanctions.
Background: ICE Detention, International Warrant, and Trump-Era Policies
Gómez entered the United States illegally in 2022, was arrested in Worcester, Massachusetts, on April 4, 2026 for assault, and was placed in ICE custody at the Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility. A 2023 Dominican Republic arrest warrant for homicide existed, but DHS officials instructed DOJ counsel not to inform the court. The episode occurs amid a high-volume “mass deportation” campaign launched under the Trump administration, which has generated a “deluge” of emergency lawsuits against ICE.
Key Figures
- Judge Melissa R. DuBose – U.S. District Judge for Rhode Island.
- Kevin Bolan – Assistant U.S. Attorney representing DHS/ICE.
- Lauren Bis – Acting Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security.
- Brian E. Sullivan – Acting Assistant Field Office Director, ICE Burlington.
- Melanie Shapiro – Attorney for Gómez.
- Bryan Rafael Gómez – 27-year-old detainee subject to the foreign warrant.
Timeline of Key Events
- 2022 – Gómez enters the United States illegally.
- 2023 – Dominican Republic issues homicide warrant.
- April 4, 2026 – Gómez arrested in Worcester; ICE takes custody.
- April 24, 2026 – ICE tells Bolan not to disclose the warrant.
- April 28, 2026 – Judge DuBose orders Gómez’s release from ICE detention.
- April 30, 2026 – DHS releases a statement calling the judge “activist” and “dangerous.”
- May 4, 2026 – Contempt hearing; Bolan apologizes; judge questions the agency’s conduct.
- May 5, 2026 – Hearing continues; DuBose to consider contempt sanctions and a request to redetain Gómez.
Data & Statistics
- Age of detainee: 27.
- Detention location: Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility, Central Falls, RI.
- Number of emergency lawsuits: Described by DOJ officials as a “deluge,” exact count not provided.
Why It Matters
The dispute raises questions about judicial security, the obligation of government lawyers to provide full candor to courts, and the transparency of immigration enforcement. A breach of trust between the judiciary and executive agencies could affect future ICE proceedings and public confidence in the immigration system.
Official Statements & Responses
- DHS press release (April 30) called Judge DuBose an “activist” who released a “violent criminal illegal alien wanted for murder.”
- DHS spokesperson declined comment on the judge’s contempt remarks.
- Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Bolan apologized, calling the press release “patently false” and stating he was instructed by ICE not to disclose the warrant.
- ICE official Brian E. Sullivan testified that ICE was told on April 24 not to confirm or deny the warrant until “use authorization” was received from Dominican authorities, which arrived on April 30.
Criticism & Opposition
Attorney Melanie Shapiro called the government’s justification for withholding the warrant “outrageous” and a “real disservice to the judicial process and the public’s trust of integrity of the court.” Judge DuBose described the episode as “a massive breach of this court’s trust” and warned that the false narrative endangered public safety and judicial security.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on when DHS first learned of the warrant: one account cites an April 16 DHS press release that already contained warrant details, while other testimony says DHS only confirmed the warrant on April 30. Additionally, the extent of ICE’s authorization to disclose the warrant remains unclear, creating a factual gap that the contempt hearing seeks to resolve.
Verbatim Quotes
- “a massive breach of this court’s trust.” — Judge Melissa R. DuBose, U.S. District Judge
- “It was a grave error on my part not to have paused,” — Kevin Bolan, Assistant U.S. Attorney
- “The April 30th, completely erroneous and dangerous press release is still on their website,” — Judge Melissa R. DuBose
- “I think that it’s [a] real disservice to the judicial process and the public’s trust of integrity of the court,” — Melanie Shapiro, Attorney for Gómez
- “We operate here under the color of good faith and we’ve had a wonderful, functioning, working relationship with your office until this time,” — Judge Melissa R. DuBose
What’s Next
Judge DuBose will rule on whether to hold DHS in contempt and on a motion to redetain Gómez. The outcome could set precedent for how immigration agencies disclose foreign criminal information to courts and may influence future inter-agency protocols under ongoing immigration enforcement initiatives.
