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At a routine ICE check-in in early August, Texas business owner Roman Surovtsev—stateless since leaving the former Soviet Union as a child—was detained, upending his family and small painting company. He previously lost his green card after teen convictions, but deportations to Ukraine or Russia have long stalled for lack of travel documents. Now, despite a vacated carjacking conviction and ongoing court challenges, ICE is again seeking removal; DOJ says re-detention is lawful. His lawyers argue deportation remains unlikely, while his wife describes lost income, missed milestones, and advocates’ warnings that due process is being eroded.

Prepared by Lauren Mitchell and reviewed by editorial team.