COVINGTON, KENTUCKY – A Chicago area woman – a lawful permanent resident – must receive a new bond hearing giving her another opportunity to argue that she should be released after being detained in Kentucky for more than a year. Beata Siemionkowicz, a native and citizen of Poland who has lived in the United States for more than three decades, asked the court to order a new hearing after she has been held since August 2025 when she was taken into custody at her daughter’s home.
The hearing to consider Siemienowicz’s freedom must take place within seven days. The court further held that the government, not Siemionkowicz, bears the burden of proving that continued detention is warranted.
“My sister and I are grateful to the court,” said Gabi Siemionkowicz, Beata’s younger daughter. “This ruling gives us hope that we might be able to hug our mother soon.”
“All we want is a fair chance for our mother in the courts,” added Claudia Siemionkowicz, Beata’s older daughter. “We hope this is a step in getting her back to the family that loves her.”
“The court recognized that Beata’s lengthy detention merits a new bond hearing with the burden on the government to demonstrate that she should still be detained,” said Hirsh M. Joshi, Staff Attorney at the ACLU of Illinois. “Our client is a hard-working mother, someone who has cared for hospice patients. Her detention serves no purpose other than cruelty. She deserves to be released, and this is a step in the right direction.”
Siemionkowicz is a green card holder who has lived continuously in the United States since 1995. A single mother of two U.S. citizen daughters, Siemionkowicz has worked for many years as a caregiver to provide for her family. Years ago, she was charged with two separate misdemeanors related to retail theft, matters that were resolved with court supervision and a conditional charge. She has not been charged with any crimes in more than 15 years, and she has never been charged or convicted of a violent crime.
“Today’s decision is an important victory for Beata and her family, and we are proud to have stood alongside them in challenging her prolonged detention,” added Bethany Baxter, ACLU of Kentucky Staff Attorney. “From the beginning, we have maintained that the government should bear the burden of justifying why someone should remain detained, and we are pleased the court recognized the serious constitutional concerns at stake. We hope this ruling brings Beata one step closer to returning home to the family that has fought so hard for her.”
A copy of the judge’s ruling can be found here.
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The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Kentucky is freedom’s watchdog, working daily in the courts, legislature and communities to defend individual rights and personal freedoms. For additional information, visit our website at: www.aclu-ky.org.
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