Harvey Laureano Rosales MS-13 Release Order (2026)
Harvey Laureano Rosales MS-13 Release Order (2026) — A federal judge in Las Vegas ordered the release of convicted MS-13 murderer Harvey Laureano Rosales, who had a final deportation order, over Justice Department objections.
Summary
Harvey Laureano Rosales, 54, an El Salvadoran national who had entered the United States illegally, was convicted of murder and identified as an MS-13 gang member. He had a final administrative order of removal from the United States, meaning federal law required him to remain in immigration custody pending deportation. Despite this, U.S. District Court Judge Richard Boulware II, sitting in Las Vegas, Nevada, ordered Rosales released from detention, setting a release deadline of late January 2026.
The U.S. Attorney's Office argued strenuously against the release, stating that releasing Rosales would directly conflict with federal immigration law given his final order of removal. The DOJ warned of the public safety risks of releasing a convicted murderer with a gang affiliation. Judge Boulware II proceeded with the release order regardless. The tweet announcing the case identified the judge as "Obama appointed," a characterization consistent with reporting on the Boulware appointment, though some sources describing a similar Nevada case attribute the appointment differently; the final order of removal conflict was consistently described in mainstream coverage.
The case drew widespread condemnation from immigration enforcement advocates, conservatives, and Trump administration officials, who described the ruling as part of a pattern of judicial resistance to ICE deportation efforts. It was widely cited alongside similar cases of judges blocking the detention of criminal aliens with final deportation orders.
Key Details
- Date: Order issued approximately January 24, 2026; release deadline set for late January 2026
- Location: Las Vegas, Nevada (U.S. District Court, District of Nevada)
- Key People: Harvey Laureano Rosales (defendant, 54, MS-13, convicted murderer); Judge Richard Boulware II (U.S. District Court, District of Nevada)
- Outcome: Judge ordered release over DOJ objections; Rosales had a final order of removal placing him in potential conflict with immigration law