A legal controversy in the United States has taken a new turn following the sudden death of Florida federal judge John E. Steele, days after his decision to release a convicted Cuban plane hijacker triggered calls for his impeachment.
Steele, 77, died shortly after facing criticism over his ruling involving Maikel Guerra Morales, a Cuban national who was being held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ICE, pending deportation.
Guerra Morales was convicted for hijacking a Cuban commuter aircraft in 2003 and forcing it to land at Key West International Airport. He spent more than 20 years in prison for aircraft piracy and conspiracy to interfere with a flight crew.
After ICE detained him in December 2025, authorities planned to deport him to Mexico. However, Steele ordered his release under supervision, ruling that his continued detention had gone beyond the legally acceptable period because there was no clear prospect of removal.
The judge cited a Supreme Court decision concerning the detention of foreign nationals whose deportation cannot be completed within a reasonable timeframe.
Steele said the government could not keep individuals in custody indefinitely simply because deportation arrangements had stalled.
The ruling sparked political backlash, with Republican Congressman Greg Steube filing an impeachment resolution accusing Steele of “high crimes and misdemeanours.”
Steube described the decision as judicial overreach, arguing that the judge had the authority to keep the convicted hijacker detained.
The circumstances surrounding Steele’s death remain unclear, while the case continues to fuel debate over immigration enforcement, deportation policies and judicial powers in the United States.
