Date: November 3, 2026
The True Post (Web News) A Canadian dentist who was arrested by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers during a green card interview in Minnesota has been released following a federal judge’s order. The court ruled that his arrest and detention violated his constitutional rights.
Dr William Lizardo, 32, originally from Mississauga, Ontario, was released from custody and returned home after US District Judge Michael J. Davis ordered his immediate release. In his ruling, the judge described the circumstances surrounding the arrest as deeply troubling, stating that authorities had no reasonable basis to continue holding him.
According to court documents, Lizardo moved to the United States in 2019 on a student visa and enrolled at the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry. He completed his dental degree in 2023 and married an American woman later that year. The couple welcomed a daughter two years later.
Green Card Application Approved, but Immigration Problems Continued
Lizardo’s wife filed an immigration petition on his behalf in September 2023, after which he also applied for permanent residency in the United States.
The petition submitted by his wife was approved in January 2025.
During his time in the United States, Lizardo worked as a dentist in communities facing significant shortages of healthcare professionals. However, after his employment authorization was revoked, he began volunteering at a low-cost dental clinic in Burnsville, Minnesota.
Court Notices Sent to Wrong Address Led to Arrest and Deportation Order
According to court records, Lizardo’s permanent residency application was subsequently denied in January after he failed to provide a certified document relating to Ontario.
He was later sent notices requiring him to appear at various immigration court hearings. However, the notices were reportedly mailed to an incorrect address, preventing him from attending the proceedings.
On October 23, ICE officers arrested Lizardo and transferred him to the Sherburne County Jail. Authorities also issued an order for his removal from the United States.
Lizardo maintained that he had never received the hearing notices. He subsequently filed a request to have the removal order rescinded, which was granted by an immigration court on October 28.
The judge noted that although Lizardo and his family had moved several times, he had informed both the US Postal Service and US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) of every change of address.
The court also pointed out that government agencies had continued sending correspondence to his updated addresses.
Furthermore, the judge noted that Lizardo had no criminal record during his stay in the United States and had never previously been arrested.
Federal Judge Orders Immediate Release
ICE officials argued in court that Lizardo should remain in detention until a final decision was made on his green card application.
However, Judge Michael J. Davis rejected the government’s position and ruled that there was no reasonable basis to believe Lizardo posed a flight risk.
The judge ordered his immediate release, emphasizing that the circumstances of the case were particularly troubling.
In his decision, Davis noted that the facts of the case were so concerning that they could have justified a lengthy judicial opinion. However, he said his immediate priority was ensuring that Lizardo did not have to spend another night in jail.
Lawyer Calls the Case an Administrative Paperwork Error
Lizardo’s lawyer, Hassan Ahmad, told CBC News that his client was released on Sunday evening, just hours after the judge issued the order.
According to Ahmad, Lizardo is now awaiting a final decision from US Citizenship and Immigration Services on his permanent residency application. He expressed hope that the matter would be resolved quickly in light of the difficulties his client had already experienced.
The lawyer described the entire incident as a paperwork error that had unnecessarily escalated into a federal-level legal case.
Ahmad also said the court’s order included a provision preventing ICE from taking Lizardo back into custody while his green card application remains under consideration.
According to the lawyer, the deportation proceedings were legally flawed from the beginning, and he hopes US immigration authorities will not pursue the matter any further.
