A U.S. federal judge has denied a habeas corpus petition filed by the defense of Inés Gómez-Mont Arena, a former Mexican television conductor, in an attempt to contest the legitimacy of her detention and secure her release. The decision was made by District Judge Jeffrey T. Kuntz of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, as reported by Mexican media outlets, including The Millennium.
A recently obtained document confirms that Gómez-Mont is a native and citizen of Mexico, as well as a citizen of Spain, who initially entered the United States without proper inspection in July 2021. He has maintained continuous residency in the country since that time.
The court emphasized that the former conductor has not sought a bail review with the relevant administrative bodies.
A petition for habeas corpus has been deemed inapplicable to challenge the conditions of confinement, rather than the legality of detention. Consequently, the petition has been rejected and the Secretary has been instructed to close the case, also dismissing any outstanding motions for improvident action.
A defense appeal was submitted in Miami, Florida, on October 31, seeking judicial review of the detention of Gómez-Mont and a stay on her transfer to another detention facility. At present, she is being held at the Broward Transition Center. Gómez-Mont was apprehended by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in Miami on October 30.
A recent appeal has been filed, mirroring the defense strategy employed by Víctor Manuel Álvarez Puga, whose husband was detained on September 24, 2025. Following his detention, Álvarez Puga was released on bail, with his trial ongoing and a scheduled hearing set for this November.
The defense team has raised concerns that transferring Gómez-Mont outside of Miami would have adverse effects, citing the fact that one of her daughters is currently undergoing medical treatment. The former driver's arrest stems from a five-year fugitive status in Mexico, where she is wanted for allegedly orchestrating a tax evasion and money laundering scheme, as well as diverting public funds through a phantom business operation.
