For Javier Hernandez, cooperating with federal prosecutors felt like the only option. AdvertisementSix months before trial, ICE agents detained Hernandez in San Bernardino, court records show. ICE did not consult with federal prosecutors in Los Angeles before moving to deport their witness, U.S. District Court Judge Christina Snyder said during a hearing last year. “Anytime someone was a federal defendant or critical witness in a federal case, it would be shocking if we executed a removal of that individual,” he said. LeCedre replied saying “there may be some value” in trying to intervene with ICE to keep Hernandez in the country.

Source: Los Angeles Times April 05, 2026 23:31 UTC