Another Federal Habeas Victory — A Father Returns Home

Cedillo Law Firm secured another federal habeas victory for a longtime U.S. resident and father of two young daughters who had been held in ICE custody for more than seven months without an individualized hearing. A federal judge found that his continued detention violated due process and ordered his release within 48 hours. Congratulations to Senior Associate Attorney Stephanie Pimentel for her outstanding work helping reunite this family.

Cedillo Law Firm announces a major DWI suppression win obtained through a co-counsel effort between our firm & the Law Firm of Dulce Toledo

In this case, the defense challenged whether law enforcement had probable cause to arrest our client for DWI where the evidence did not establish operation of a motor vehicle. After hearing evidence and arguments, the Court agreed with the defense and found no probable cause to arrest. Because of that ruling, the Court did not even need to reach the additional issues raised regarding the breath-test warnings and consent. This result is a powerful reminder that in a DWI case, intoxication alone is not enough — the State must prove lawful grounds for the arrest, including evidence connecting the accused to operation. Congratulations to attorneys John Paul Cedillo and Dulce Toledo for bringing home this important win.

Bond Granted in Immigration Detention Case

Client in removal proceedings granted bond by Immigration Judge, despite DHS' objection. Attorney J.P. Cedillo was able to show why this long-term resident's ties to the community ensured that he would return to any future court dates, assuring the Judge that a bond would be honored. Client was able to leave detention after two weeks. 

Secured a strong result for our client after a three-car collision caused by a driver who ran a red light in downtown Houston. Despite multiple vehicles and competing claims, we pushed the case forward and recovered just shy of the at-fault driver’s policy limits—helping our client move forward with meaningful compensation after a serious crash.

The Federal Judge in this case ordered the client's IMMEDIATE RELEASE. As of this writing, our client has been released from detention and can breathe a sigh of relief and reunite with their family as we prepare her immigration case, with her help, from our office and not behind plexiglass and. barbed wire. Huge kudos to attorney Stephanie Pimentel, who's legal research, writing, and persistence made this possible. 

Felony Solicitation Case Dismissed

Cedillo Law Firm, PLLC is proud to announce another strong result for our client. Senior Associate Attorney Stephanie Pimentel successfully obtained a dismissal in a felony solicitation case, protecting our client from the serious consequences of a felony conviction. This result reflects the firm’s continued commitment to thorough preparation, strong advocacy, and fighting for the best possible outcome in every case.

Cedillo Law Firm Secures Another Immigration Bond

Attorney J.P. Cedillo represented a client detained by ICE after a recent criminal case and presented evidence of the client’s lifelong ties to the United States, U.S. citizen family members, pending family-based immigration case, and strong support system.

The Immigration Judge granted bond at $8,500, allowing the client the opportunity to return home to his family and young child while his immigration case continues. This result shows the importance of preparation, evidence, and experienced advocacy in difficult immigration bond hearings.

Felony Indictment Dismissed

Cedillo Law Firm secured the dismissal of an extremely serious abuse accusation after our client spent nearly a year in jail awaiting trial while maintaining his innocence. After attorneys Stephanie Pimentel and J.P. Cedillo presented and emphasized critical defense evidence, the prosecution reviewed the case and agreed to dismiss the charge. While our client now faces the difficult task of rebuilding his life, his reputation, and his family relationships, this dismissal spared him from the devastating risk of prison for an accusation he always knew was wrong.

Another fantastic win for our client. Judge granted the client's immediate release, not just a bond hearing, finding that our client's constitutional rights were injured so greviously, the only proper remedy was release. Now he can be with his family and in the free world while we fight his removal case. 

Our client was seriously injured when a rideshare driver t-boned her vehicle. We pursued all available insurance coverage and held the delivery driver accountable for the crash. Through strategic negotiation, we secured a $78,000 settlement for our client. Another example of fighting for real results when rideshare companies are involved.

Cedillo Law Firm is proud to announce another trial-day dismissal in a DWI case 

The State claimed it could not locate a necessary witness, but our defense was ready for trial and prepared to challenge the State’s evidence through a multi-pronged motion to suppress. Lead attorney J.P. Cedillo had serious concerns about the investigation, the blood evidence, and whether the State could meet its burden. When the case was called for trial, the State dismissed the charge.

Immigration Bond Granted for Longtime U.S. Resident

Attorney Stephanie Pimentel secured an immigration bond for a deserving client who had deep ties to the United States, including U.S. citizen children, property, and long-standing connections to the community. Although the government opposed release and the immigration judge set a high bond, we presented the client’s equities, history, and dismissed criminal matters in context. The judge ultimately granted bond, allowing our client to leave detention and return home while his immigration case continues. For families facing ICE detention, this result shows that strong preparation and a complete picture of the client’s life can make a meaningful difference.

We secured a dismissal with prejudice in a felony evading case after successfully arguing that double jeopardy barred the State from prosecuting our client again. The client, who was riding a motorcycle, never realized officers were attempting to stop him and pulled over immediately once he became aware. After the State dismissed its defective indictment following jury selection, the prosecution attempted to refile the case. We filed a Motion to Quash arguing that jeopardy had already attached. The court agreed, throwing the case out entirely. Kudos to attorney Malachi Ledbetter for leading the argument on the motion and securing the win.

We won a writ of Habeas Corpus in state court after showing that our client was never properly advised about the immigration consequences of his marijuana case. The judge agreed, erased the conviction, and allowed the case to start over with all of our client’s rights fully protected.

Cedillo Law Firm won another major victory in Federal court, securing our client the right to a bond hearing. Another Federal judge sided with our client against the government attorneys and opens the courthouse doors to our client, getting him one step closer to freedom.

Cedillo Law Firm announces another major federal immigration victory

On June 29, 2026, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas granted our client’s habeas petition in part and ordered his release from immigration custody after finding that his continued detention violated due process.

Congratulations to senior associate attorney Stephanie Pimentel for her work on this important win. This case is another reminder that immigration detention has constitutional limits, and Cedillo Law Firm remains committed to fighting for immigrants, families, and individuals whose liberty is at stake.

Federal Court Orders Client Released from ICE Detention

Attorney Stephanie Pimentel helped win another federal habeas case against prolonged ICE detention. Our client had lived in the United States for more than 23 years, had five U.S. citizen children, no criminal history, and had already spent over ten months in immigration custody. The federal judge agreed that continued detention without an individualized hearing violated due process and granted the writ of habeas corpus. The Court ordered ICE to release our client within 48 hours and barred the government from re-detaining him during the removal case unless it first proves he is a flight risk or danger to the community. He is now free and reunited with his family.

In a case in the Southern District of Texas, we secured another federal habeas victory ordering our client to have a bond hearing—even after the ruling in Buenrostro limiting bonds for many in the 5th Circuit. Our client is a longtime resident with no criminal history, a mother to U.S. citizen children with serious health conditions. The federal court ordered the government to justify her continued detention at a bond hearing—or release her. UPDATE: The Federal court ordered her release. 

Our client was facing removal based on an alleged CIMT (Crime Involving Moral Turpitude) conviction. We challenged the charge and showed that, under the law, the statute did not meet the legal definition of a CIMT. The Immigration Judge agreed and terminated the case. Another family kept together.

Our client is an avid motorcyclist accused of felony evading after officers didn't think he slowed quickly enough during a traffic stop, despite his not initially noticing police. State’s case fell apart due to critical indictment errors that could not be cured once trial began. The result: a full dismissal, justice done, and—most importantly—our client’s legal status protected.