Archive · 14 Jan 2026
US Court Orders Return of Wrongfully Deported Indian Man
A man named Francisco D’Costa, who is from India and has lived in the US since 2009, was sent back to India even though a court had said he should not be.
The court found out and said this was not right.
They ordered the US government to bring him back because they think he should be able to continue his case in the US.
The court said the government made a mistake and needs to fix it by helping D’Costa return to the US.
The government said it was an accident, but the court said that doesn’t matter because the deportation was still wrong.
The court also said D’Costa might be in danger in India because he is a Christian.
The government has to make a plan to bring him back soon.
A US federal court ordered the return of Francisco D’Costa, an Indian national, after he was deported despite a court order stopping his removal.
D’Costa was deported on December 20, 2025, more than three hours after the court issued a stay on his removal.
The court found that immigration authorities were aware of the order but deported him anyway, violating the court's authority.
D’Costa faces a risk of persecution in India due to his conversion to Christianity, according to his court documents.
The court rejected the government's arguments and ordered authorities to facilitate D’Costa's return to the US as soon as possible.
- Who
- Francisco D’Costa, an Indian national living in the US since 2009
- What
- A US federal court ordered the return of D’Costa after he was wrongfully deported despite a court order
- When
- D’Costa was deported on December 20, 2025, and the court ruling was issued on January 9, 2026
- Where
- The case was heard in the US District Court for the Southern District of Texas
- Why
- D’Costa was deported in violation of a court order, raising serious due process concerns
- Name
- Francisco D’Costa
- Nationality
- Indian
- Year of US Arrival
- 2009
- Deportation Date
- December 20, 2025
- Court Order Date
- December 20, 2025 (morning)
- Court Ruling Date
- January 9, 2026
- Flight Details
- Turkish Airlines from Houston at 2:55 pm
- Religion
- Christianity
