Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced Tuesday that it released 250 immigrants with criminal histories.

The move was due to a coronavirus-related order issued by the Central District of California, reported FOX News.

A week prior to this, U.S. Judge Terry Hatter demanded ICE to either release or deport immigrants at the Adelanto ICE processing center in Southern California. He said doing so would lessen the spread of the coronavirus among immigrants.

ICE first planned to send their detainees to "alternative locations" and even filed a request to do so. But it ended up releasing the immigrants from the facility.

There were at least 160 detainees who tested positive for coronavirus, according to Business Insider.

Why Release the Immigrants?

The release of ICE detainees is just part of the broader trend amid the coronavirus pandemic. Some U.S. prisons have already released inmates to prevent further spread of the virus.

In California, thousands of prisoners have been given early release dates, said Los Angeles Times. New York City also had some released inmates, some landing themselves back in jail.

According to the New York Post, at least 50 inmates went back to jail after their release. Those who were released had varied histories of crime: assault with a deadly weapon, drinking under the influence, "lewd/lascivious acts with a child," and others.

ICE said more than 85 percent of the released detainees from Adelanto were facing pending criminal charges or convictions. There were 465 cases in the processing center.

The agency maintains that it follows guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to prevent the spread of the virus. In a press release, the agency said they added precautionary measures.

"[N]o detainee was released until officials established a high degree of certainty that they did not pose a COVID-19 public health risk," the statement read. COVID-19 testing in its Adelanto facility is also continuous. 

Who Were Released by ICE?

A senior official performing the duties of director Tony Pham criticized the order, saying it was a danger to public safety. He also accused the court of overstepping its authority.

He said that despite the attacks that seek to "mislead the public," the detainees can pose a risk to safety.

"ICE has complied with this overreaching court order; however, the public should know that the ruling undoubtedly places them at greater risk," he said. 

Government Attorneys Want Immigrants Kept in ICE

Some government attorneys also argued in favor of the agency. They said ICE could keep as many as 1,052 immigrants at the facility, as long as it follows guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO).

Under the guidance, detainees have to physically distance themselves at 39 inches apart, which is half the distance recommended by the CDC.

Judge Hatter said the government's reliance on the WHO now appeared to be "disingenuous," given the administration's withdrawal from the organization.

California has fallen target of the Trump administration before. It's been butting heads with the White House over its immigration policies, especially the sanctuary law in 2018. 

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