For third time this weekend, federal judge refuses to let immigrant remain locked up just because ICE doesn't seem to know how to process payments

A federal judge this morning ordered ICE to immediately release an immigrant whose $1,500 bond payment ICE seems unable to process.

US District Court Judge Myong Joun ordered immediate freedom for Jose Antonio Alves dos Santos, in an order posted to the Boston federal court's online docket around 9 a.m. today.

Alves dos Santos has been stuck in a cell since at least Sept. 20, when his lawyer filed a habeas corpus motion seeking his freedom. On Sept. 29, Joun had ordered Alves dos Santos to go before an immigration judge - who works for the executive branch, not the federal judiciary - to be released on payment of a bond, the immigration equivalent of bail, as he fights to stay in the US. He had his hearing Oct. 9, at which an immigration judge set bond at $1,500.

But he remained locked