Judges across the United States have issued over 4,400 rulings since October, declaring that ICE unlawfully detained immigrants amid ongoing legal challenges to the Trump administration’s immigration policies.
Since October, judges throughout the United States have issued more than 4,400 rulings finding that the Trump administration unlawfully detained immigrants, according to a review of court records by Reuters.
These decisions represent a significant judicial pushback against the administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement policies. Despite these rulings, the government has continued to detain some individuals even after courts have determined that such actions are illegal.
U.S. District Judge Thomas Johnston of West Virginia, appointed by President George W. Bush, recently criticized federal authorities for their stance. He ordered the release of a Venezuelan man held in custody, stating, “It is appalling that the Government insists that this Court should redefine or completely disregard the current law as it is clearly written.”
Many of the court decisions center on the administration’s departure from a nearly 30-year understanding of federal law, which allowed immigrants already residing in the U.S. to seek release on bond while their cases were pending in immigration court.
In response to the mounting criticism, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson asserted that the administration is “working to lawfully deliver on President Trump’s mandate to enforce federal immigration law.”
Immigration detention numbers have surged during Trump’s presidency. As of this month, the population in ICE custody has reached approximately 68,000 individuals, marking a 75 percent increase compared to the levels when he took office last year.
At the appellate level, the administration received a favorable ruling from a conservative-leaning court in New Orleans. U.S. Circuit Judge Edith Jones stated that the fact previous administrations did not fully utilize the statute to detain immigrants “does not mean they lacked the authority to do more.” This ruling overturned lower court decisions that had led to the release of two Mexican men, who, according to their attorney, remain out of custody.
Similar cases are anticipated to come before other federal appeals courts in the coming weeks.
Addressing the surge in legal challenges, Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin remarked that the increase in lawsuits was “no surprise,” particularly “after many activist judges have attempted to thwart President Trump from fulfilling the American people’s mandate for mass deportations.”
With limited options available to contest their detention, many immigrant detainees have turned to federal courts in large numbers. Since Trump returned to office, over 20,200 lawsuits have been filed seeking release from custody, highlighting the extensive implications of the administration’s policy changes.
The impact of these rulings has been considerable. Since the beginning of October, more than 400 federal judges have determined in at least 4,421 cases that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is unlawfully detaining individuals as part of its mass-deportation efforts, according to Reuters.
As the legal landscape continues to evolve, the implications of these court decisions remain significant for both immigrants and the administration’s immigration policies.
According to Reuters, the ongoing judicial scrutiny reflects a growing resistance to the current administration’s approach to immigration enforcement.