Arfat Sheikh, a Kashmiri filmmaker, was released from ICE custody on Thursday after a two‑week hold that began on September 24.
Bond was granted on Tuesday, allowing him to leave the detention center pending a federal hearing.
He first entered the United States on a student visa in 2019 to study film at Georgia State University, and applied for asylum in 2020 while his application was pending.
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that he entered legally but overstayed his visa, noting that a pending asylum case does not confer lawful status.
Detention occurred at Washington Dulles International Airport when officers in plain clothes approached him without a warrant, and he complied with their instructions.
His family and friends, led by campaigners on the Free Arfat Sheikh network, have criticized the detention as illegal and are seeking his swift release.
Sheikh’s feature film Saffron Kingdom, released in 2024, earned accolades at Chicago, Los Angeles, Melbourne, Wake Forest, and Anatolian film festivals.
The case is set to be heard in federal court next week to determine his future immigration status.