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Judge: Lawsuit over young immigrant's arrest can go forward

This undated photo provided by law firm Public Counsel shows Daniel Ramirez Medina, 23, who was was brought to the U.S. illegally as a child but was protected from deportation by Obama's administration. (Daniel Ramirez Medina/Public Counsel via AP)

SEATTLE — A federal judge in Seattle says a lawsuit by a Mexican man who was arrested in February, despite his participation in a program to protect those brought to the U.S. illegally as children, can go forward.

>> RELATED: Immigration judge approves release of jailed DACA recipient Daniel Ramirez

Daniel Ramirez Medina was held in custody for six weeks, even though he had no criminal record and was participating in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. The arrest was seen as a signal that the program might be eroded under the new administration of President Donald Trump.

>> RELATED: Immigrant granted authorization card under Obama detained in Tacoma

Ramirez challenged the government's decision to strip him of the program's protections. The Justice Department sought to have the case dismissed, saying whether to grant someone protection under DACA is up to the government.

>> RELATED: Q&A: Both sides in case of man detained by immigration agents

But in a decision Wednesday, Judge Ricardo Martinez said Ramirez Medina had made enough of a showing that the immigration agents didn't follow their own protocols for stripping DACA protections to let the case proceed.

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