ICE Arrests Man Released With NTA Who Never Appeared in Court
In April 2023, US Border Patrol released a man from Uzbekistan with a Notice to Appear for immigration court in New York City. He showed up once, in May 2024, then stopped. On October 14, 2026, ICE arrested him at his Brooklyn home. His case shows exactly what happens when someone released with an NTA disappears from the immigration system.
You crossed the border, Border Patrol released you with a paper telling you to appear in immigration court, and life got complicated. Missing that hearing — even once — can lead to a removal order issued in your absence and, eventually, an ICE arrest at your door.
On October 14, 2026, ICE officers in New York City arrested Sobirjon Sobirov Khusen Ugli, 35, a citizen of Uzbekistan, near his home in Brooklyn. According to ICE, Sobirov had entered the US illegally in April 2023 near Lukeville, Arizona, as part of a group of 110 people. Border Patrol released him on his own recognizance — meaning without paying a bond — and gave him a Notice to Appear (NTA), the official document that starts removal proceedings and tells you when and where to show up for immigration court. He appeared once, in May 2024, and never came back. ICE arrested him on October 14, 2026, and he is now held in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.
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ICE New York City Field Office Director Kenneth Genalo said in a statement that the agency specifically targets people it considers public safety threats. Sobirov carried a serious criminal history: press reports cited a 2013 murder conviction in Thailand and a 2020 felony theft conviction in Uzbekistan. But the mechanism that put him back in ICE's hands — a missed immigration court date after an NTA release — is the same one that can affect anyone who fails to appear, regardless of their background. When you miss a hearing, an immigration judge can issue a removal order in absentia (meaning without you present). That order makes you immediately deportable and disqualifies you from most forms of immigration relief for ten years.
What Happens If You Miss Immigration Court
Missing a court date does not make your case disappear. The judge issues a removal order in absentia, ICE can arrest you at any time, and the fees tied to that arrest are steep. As of October 1, 2026, ICE charges $5,300 for apprehending someone subject to a removal in absentia order. If you have a pending NTA and cannot make your hearing, you must act before the date — not after.
What to Do
- Keep every NTA document safe. It lists your hearing date, court location, and case number — you need all three to check your case status at the EOIR (Executive Office for Immigration Review) court portal or by calling 1-800-898-7180.
- If you cannot attend your scheduled hearing, contact an immigration attorney immediately. A lawyer may be able to file a motion to continue (postpone) the hearing before it happens — courts rarely grant postponements requested after a missed date.
- If you already missed a hearing and a removal order was issued, a lawyer can file a Motion to Reopen your case. The deadline to file is 90 days from the date of the removal order. Missing that 90-day window makes reopening far harder.
- Do not wait for ICE to find you. Proactively addressing a missed hearing gives you legal options; waiting eliminates most of them.
What to do, step by step — see our guide “Your Rights During an ICE Encounter”.
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A removal order issued in absentia is not the end of the road, but it is close. You have 90 days from the date of that order to file a Motion to Reopen with the immigration court, and you must show either that you never received proper notice of the hearing or that your failure to appear was due to exceptional circumstances beyond your control. If neither applies, reopening is an uphill battle. Anyone who has missed a court date should pull their case record from the EOIR portal immediately, confirm whether an order has been entered, and consult an immigration attorney before that 90-day clock runs out.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Notice to Appear (NTA)?
An NTA is the official document the government files to start removal proceedings against you. It lists the charges against you and tells you when and where to appear in immigration court. Receiving an NTA does not mean you will be deported — it means your case will be decided by an immigration judge.
What happens if I miss my immigration court hearing?
The immigration judge can issue a removal order in absentia — meaning without you present. That order makes you immediately deportable. You also lose eligibility for most forms of immigration relief for ten years. ICE can arrest you at any time after the order is issued.
Can I reopen my case after missing a hearing?
Yes, but you must act fast. You have 90 days from the date of the removal order to file a Motion to Reopen with the immigration court. To succeed, you generally need to show you never received proper notice of the hearing or that a genuine emergency prevented you from attending. An immigration attorney can assess whether your situation qualifies.
How much does ICE charge if they arrest me on a removal order?
As of October 1, 2026, ICE charges $5,300 for apprehending someone subject to a removal in absentia order. This fee is separate from any bond or court costs.