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Man who won release from prison after being freed early now in ICE custody over detainer

Posted at 5:34 PM, May 17, 2017
and last updated 2017-05-18 12:09:54-04

DENVER — A man convicted of a kidnapping and robbery who put his life back together following his release, only to be imprisoned again, won his release on Tuesday, but it didn't last long.

Rene Lima-Marin, who was sentenced to 98 years in prison for in a 2000 robbery, kidnapping and burglary case, was mistakenly released into parole in 2008, and followed that parole. 

He rebuilt his life, only to be taken back into custody in 2014 after authorities realized their mistake. Despite an Arapahoe County District Judge decrying Lima-Marin's imprisonment as "Draconian," he will continue to remain behind bars. 

The judge decided Lima-Marin should not be imprisoned, as there is no way to turn back the clock on an early release. 

According to Governor John Hickenlooper and the Colorado Department of Corrections, Lima-Marin was flagged in their system upon preparation for his release for a possible Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer.

ICE confirmed their detainer, forcing corrections staffers to turn over Lima-Marin over.

Lima-Marin was originally from Cuba, a country that only accepts people scheduled to be removed from the U.S. on a case-by-case basis. Those who aren't accepted back to Cuba sometimes receive orders of supervision to remain in the U.S.

"We can’t imagine the emotional roller coaster this family has endured," Hickenlooper said. "The Colorado Department of Corrections did what was required by law and released Mr. Lima-Marin to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The family has shown amazing strength and we hope this is a temporary stop on his way to being reunited with his family."

ICE said it provides every person the organization detains the opportunity to appear before a federal immigration judge. The same will stand for Lima-Marin. 

It's not yet known when Lima-Marin will appear in front of that judge for a hearing.