Behind bars, a young ‘Dreamer’ is taking on the federal government

UPDATE: 3/08/17, 3:50 p.m. PT

Daniel Ramirez Medina, a 'dreamer' recently arrested near Seattle despite his DACA status, will remain in immigration detention.

A federal judge said he’ll make a decision early next week about whether to release Ramirez from a Tacoma lockup, where he has been held since Feb. 10. Ramirez is asking the court to find that his arrest violated his constitutional rights.

A ruling on Ramirez's release was expected at a hearing Wednesday, but U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Donohue said the decision would be delayed because the Justice Department improperly filed a last-minute argument. Donohue gave Ramirez's attorneys until Friday to respond.

Tomorrow, March 9, is Ramirez's birthday. He'll be 24.

Original Post: 3/07/17, 6:55 p.m. PT

The case of a so-called "dreamer" who faces deportation will come before a federal judge in Seattle again Wednesday. This lawsuit has gained national attention as it looks at the policy around this broad group of young immigrants.

The young man suing the federal government is Daniel Ramirez Medina.

Immigration agents arrested him last month, even though he has no criminal record and was covered by DACA, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. The program provides work permits and deportation protection for some undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children.

This next hearing for Ramirez will focus on two issues: First, which court has jurisdiction? The feds say it’s the immigration court.

But Ramirez’s attorneys say it’s the district court, partly because of the extraordinary circumstances related to DACA and partly because they're seeking a broader review of the case. Ultimately, they want the federal court to affirm that dreamers cannot be arbitrarily arrested and detained.

The other issue for Ramirez is whether he will remain in detention. His attorneys have asked for his immediate release. Again, the feds say that's up to an immigration judge.

Across the country, more than 750,000 young people are currently enrolled in the DACA program.