Las Vegas Undocumented Immigrant Granted Bail After Prolonged Detention
An undocumented immigrant from Las Vegas, Alfredo Santiago Castro, will be released on bail following a ruling by an immigration judge on Wednesday. This decision comes after months of detention, during which Castro was held without clarity on the charges against him.
Castro’s legal battle has unfolded since his arrest on March 1 by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, leading to his transfer to federal custody. This incident occurred amidst President Trump’s aggressive immigration policies, which advocate for the detention of undocumented individuals.
In March, U.S. District Judge Richard Brewer ruled against an inflexible federal policy that limited detainees’ rights to seek bail, enabling Castro to petition for a bail hearing. Brice Requa Trauts, executive director of the Arriba Workers’ Center, highlighted the challenges posed by Trump’s approach, particularly for individuals like Castro, who have positive community ties.
Having lived in Las Vegas for over two decades, Castro worked as a server at Delmonico’s Steakhouse prior to his arrest. His past includes a misdemeanor DUI conviction in 2012, but many supporters who attended his recent hearings argue that he does not belong in the category of individuals targeted for deportation under Trump’s administration.
Despite delays in his case, which included a lack of communication regarding charges, a subsequent bail hearing was ordered by Judge Ann Traum after doubts arose about the handling of his legal representation. The Clark County District Attorney’s Office only served Castro with charges on the day of his bail hearing, leading observers to speculate about potential retaliatory prosecution.
During the hearing, Judge Daniel Daugherty acknowledged the number of petitions and letters submitted in support of Castro, including one from Clark County Commissioner Tick Sagalblom. Daugherty expressed concern that critical information regarding Castro’s character was not presented during earlier hearings, which could have influenced decisions made about his bail.
Castro, who stated that he had depleted his savings, offered to pay $1,500 for his bail, an amount that was accepted by the judge. Daugherty imposed conditions, including abstaining from drugs and alcohol, and mandated that Castro maintain his employment—requirements that some view as paradoxical given his current immigration status.
National Trends in Deportation and Detention
The Trump administration has seen nearly 400,000 arrests of undocumented immigrants during its tenure, according to recent reports. Data from the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) indicates that approximately 290,000 individuals were deported last year alone. Within Nevada, the number of monthly detentions peaked at 1,343 in January 2025, before gradually declining to between 500 and 600.
Historically, individuals without prior convictions were often released on bail; this trend shifted during the Trump administration, which permitted only 7% of detainees to be released. However, as judicial pushback against strict immigration orders grows, this percentage is beginning to rise once again.
In the first months of this year, Nevada witnessed 2,122 detentions, with immigration courts conducting 571 bail hearings, granting bail in 325 cases. Meanwhile, the U.S. Supreme Court recently approved the deportation of an additional 400,000 individuals with temporary protected status, prompting federal authorities to escalate enforcement actions nationwide.
Requa Trauts pointed out that the intense strategies employed by the current administration can invoke fear among immigrant communities and lead to harmful consequences for individuals at all levels of immigration status. The climate surrounding immigration enforcement continues to generate tension, and many are left considering alternatives across global networks.
