Judge Throws Out Trump Mass Detention Policy

A Federal Judge on 2/18/2026 Vacated an Immigration Court Ruling, giving the Trump (R) Administration Broad Powers to Detain Migrants, Forcing them to give Bond Hearings, and then possibly Release Thousands in Custody. The Ruling from U.S. District Court Judge Sunshine Sykes, Excoriated the Trump Administration’s Claims that it is Targeting the Worst-of-the-Worst for Deportation.

"The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), are at times Relying on Shaky Legal Ground, to Detain Migrants", wrote Sykes, an Appointee of Biden (D), and "Migrants are therefore Entitled to a Bond Hearing to Determine whether they may Pursue their Immigration Case Outside of ICE Detention."

“‘Worst of the worst’ is an inaccurate description of most of those affected by DHS and ICE’s operations. Perhaps in utilizing this extreme language DHS seeks to justify the magnitude and scope of its operations against non-criminal noncitizens. Maybe that phrase merely mirrors the severity and ill-natured conduct by the Government. Even though these press releases might contain an inkling of truth, they ignore a greater, more dire reality,” She wrote.

“It is not the ‘worst of the worst’ that are swept into the nationwide and reckless violations of the law by the executive branch,” She said, pointing to the Case of Liam Conejo Ramos, who was Detained “without a valid warrant” with His Father.

The Decision comes after Sykes determined in 12/2025, the Wide-Ranging Detention Program was Illegal, but Determined those being Held merited Greater Relief from the Court.

Migrants are Typically only Denied Bond Hearings before an Immigration Court Judge when they are considered Recent Arrivals.

But the Trump Administration Bucked Decades of Precedent in determining those Arrested by ICE, after Spending years in the U.S. should also be Denied a Bond Hearing.

Sykes said Despite Her Earlier Ruling, Migrants were continually being Denied Bond Hearings, and instead were Forced to File Habeas Borpus Petition, to Seek their Release.

“As evidenced by the volume of habeas petitions filed by Bond Eligible Class members and the conduct of Respondents in continuing to violate the rights of those class members, further is relief necessary,” She wrote.

Sykes’s Ruling, however, Clashes with a Decision last week, by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, which Split 2-1 in Determining their Detention Practices were Legal.

“After reviewing carefully the relevant provisions and structure of the Immigration and Naturalization Act, the statutory history, and Congressional intent, we conclude that the government’s position is correct,” the Majority Opinion concluded.










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