This page was originally created to raise awareness about the wrongful imprisonment of Torben Sondergaard in 2022-2023. Today it serves as an archive page. Find Torben’s new website on torbensondergaard.com.
To get a good understanding of why Torben and his family fled Denmark, we recommend you to watch this video series.
As strange as it sounds, the reason for Torben’s detention is not clear.
Torben was held by Homeland Security, U.S. federal executive department responsible for public security, in an immigration detention facility.
Reasons to keep an immigrant in detention like Torben (without a bond, to wait in freedom for the court date) are: The immigrant is a “flight risk” or a danger to national security or public safety. Torben is neither of these and despite delivering proof of this, a bond has been denied.
Torben has not been charged with any crimes and despite attempts from his family and attorneys to get answers, the reason US authorities decided to detain him remains unclear.
Torben was held by Homeland Security, U.S. federal executive department responsible for public security, in a immigration detention facility. There he was waiting for a decision of the Immigration Court.
This process can take a long time (from months to years). Typically, the detained immigrant is eligible for a bond. In this way, the immigrant can wait for his appearance before the court in freedom with his family. In some cases, such a bond is denied. This is the case when the person is a “flight risk” or a danger to national security or public safety.
In Torben’s case, the bond was denied. No reason was given other than the opinion of a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Deportation Officer that Torben would not be successful in his application for asylum before the Immigration Court.
Sadly, there is no legal provision for the maximum amount of time an immigrant must wait in jail for the court hearing.
A bond is a way to release the person from custody until his or her court appearance.
An immigrant who has been detained by ICE, as in the case for Torben, may be eligible for a bond. The detainee must receive an arrest warrant and a notice of custody conditions from ICE to be released on a bond. The purpose of the bond is to ensure that the detainee shows up to all immigration hearings. It allows the person to spend time with family, as well as consult with an immigration lawyer leading up to a court hearing.
A bond is possible as long as the detainee is not considered a threat to national security or public safety.
A bond request for Torben has been denied. This denial was based solely on the opinion of a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Deportation Officer that Torben would not be successful in his application for asylum before the Immigration Court.
Torben and his ministry are at the center of a complex international political and legal matter.
Several specialized lawyers and professionals are involved in trying to get justice done for Torben, while protecting his ministry at the same time. There is asylum case before an immigration court, which is complex in nature. Preparation for his trial is tedious and time consuming. Additionally, there is an effort to get Torben released from ICE detainment. In this case, Torben’s detainment by ICE is not under the control of the immigration court. Securing his release is a separate legal project all together. They are both lawyers and professionals from USA and Denmark assiting on a variety of aspects of these cases.
Furthermore, we have learned that a web of lies about Torben was falsely (and illegally) reported to US authorities by enemies of the gospel in both Denmark and the USA with the aim to cast suspicion on Torben’s Sworn Affidavit. It takes time and effort from lawyers to counteract those before the proper authorities. So far, over $200.000 was raised through public fundraising. But considering the growing size and scope of this ordeal, more funding is needed.
If you want to support Torben and his family in this fight, click here to donate.
No, this is not true. Still many people are under the impression that Torben has been detained on weapons smuggling charges.
The source of this notion was Torben himself when he shared his experience of being detained and narrated a comment made by the agent that detained him.