Judge denies Ines Gomez Mont release bid
A federal magistrate in Florida ruled that the Mexican media figure used the wrong legal mechanism to challenge her October 30 arrest.
By Marina Weber ·
Judge Jeffrey T. Kuntz denied a request for freedom for Ines Gomez Mont on Thursday.
Kuntz serves in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. He reviewed a habeas corpus petition filed by Gomez Mont's legal team. The judge determined that this specific legal tool was not the proper way to seek her release.
The court ordered the defense to pursue a different path. Lawyers must now request a hearing to examine the conditions of her detention. This process could lead to her release if she posts bail. Kuntz's ruling does not end the legal battle, but it shifts the procedural strategy for her attorneys.
The decision focuses strictly on her immigration status in the United States. It does not resolve any potential legal issues she faces in Mexico. Her arrest in Florida is tied to specific federal statutes regarding entry into the country.
Gomez Mont was detained on October 30 in Miami. Agents from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement took her into custody. She has been held at the Broward Transitional Center in Pompano Beach since that date.
Court records cite two grounds for her detention. The first is Section 1182(a)(6)(A)(i) of U.S. immigration law. This section covers individuals who enter or remain in the country without being admitted or inspected by immigration authorities. The second ground is Section 1182(a)(7)(A)(i)(I). This section addresses the lack of required entry documents.
The records state that Gomez Mont entered the United States in July 2021. Officials noted that she did not undergo a standard immigration inspection at that time. She has remained in the country continuously since her arrival.
