ICE issues deportation order for Belarusian woman extradited by FBI
An ongoing FBI investigation into a Belarusian woman accused of smuggling US aviation parts and electronics to Russia is teetering on the brink of collapse after being caught in what one judge called a “Kafkaesque” case brought on by the Trump administration’s attempts to deport her before she faces trial.
Federal prosecutors had worked for over a year to secure the extradition of Yana Leonova, who faces multiple charges including fraud, conspiracy, and money laundering. But their efforts unraveled when immigration officials abruptly issued an order to detain and deport her soon after she was flown into the US last month, a move that plunged the case into legal chaos.
“Indeed, it is both preposterous and offensive for the government to bring someone into the United States against their will and then turn around and seek ICE detention because that person is here ‘illegally,’” magistrate judge Zia M Faruqui said in a written order.
Not even the Trumpian state is efficient…..
The ICE has been let off the leash so they are going to throw their weight about. And in the traditional US mode of all the law enforcement and intelligence agencies hating each other, why would they not queer the FBI’s pitch?
Surely they didn’t extradite her and let her roam free?
It’s like when the undercover cops posing as drug users arrest the undercover cops posing as dealers
It is possible that some in ICE are anti immigration control and do things like this to sabotage it.
A bit like the Fireman first principle.
Washington Monument syndrome – Wikipedia
Oh, a bit like our Border Farce, you mean?
Norman, he only said “some” in ICE!
I always listen to people like magistrate judge Zia M Faruqui when it comes to criticism of Anglosphere law…
Consider it possible that The State is too big.
The process is the punishment.
If she’s been extradited to the US, shurely she’s in prison while being tried, not wandering around in freedom available for Immigration to capture and kick out.
Cockup is very likely but I wouldn’t rule out conspiracy in this instance. If, during the recent peace negotiations, the Russians had asked that nice Mr Witkoff if he could find a way to make this sanctions-busting tech-smuggling case go away, having Ms Leonova deported by the most Trumpian govt. agency would work. And it could, of course, just as easily be a request from the US side of the naughty operation.
Poor woman should have deported to the UK. She’d have been “accidentally” released & in State provided luxury accommodation by now. With a free phone, clothing, food, free access to health & dental care, gym membership, canoeing lessons…
I mean, its sounds more like the FBI failed to do the job properly.
In other words, the FBI brought her into the country illegally – and ICE is rectifying that.
And given that its highly unlikely ICE just showed up out of nowhere with a deportation order – the FBI had plenty of time to act on the process but chose to not do so.
Leonova’s temporary authorization to stay in the US expired just two weeks after her arrival, l
Yeah, they chose to fail to work within the system.
Also, the deportation will occur *if she is released from custody*. She’s in confinement right now.
If the courts decide to play stupid games and let her go while waiting trial – then ICE will pick her up and send her home.
Says the situation is not unique and then uses an example that is not at all the same. While also quoting a non-sequitur – those people all know the nature and origin of the charges against them.
And the Trump obsession. FBI & ICE are both federal agencies. So neither is more or less Trumpian than the other.
If you had to use the word “Kafkaesque”would have thought some of the prosecutions for “hate speech” in the UK would have been better deployment.
No way. The FBI is institutionally “deep state” (Democrat/Progressive) with a veneer of leadership from the current admin. It is demonstrably hostile to Trump governance and Trump himself.
ICE is a young agency and its core mission is aligned with Trump goals. Trump has boosted its numbers and funding enormously in both his terms The “Big Beautiful Bill” this year gave it more than any federal law enforcement agency in history; it got more than the federal prison service. Half of senior leadership has been replaced since Trump took office this term.
Presumably there are rules for such cases. And one might conclude that the FBI probably haven’t followed them. Because, hey we’re the government, so we can do what we like! Laws are for little people!
The 2001 9/11 attack was attributed to, in part, Clinton’s order that federal agencies were forbidden from talking to each other. I thought ending that restriction was part of the fallout of the 9/11 investigation.
Maybe not.