Court Ruling Forces Bond Hearings for Migrants Under Trump Policy

WHO:

The Independent - Judge Leslie Southwick, Judge James Graves, Judge Cory Wilson, Donald Trump

Fox News - Appeals court judges

WHAT:

The Independent - A panel of judges ruled that immigrants in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention must be granted a bond hearing within 90 days of their arrest.

The Independent - The ruling is the fourth federal court order striking down a key component of the Trump administration's immigration policy.

The Independent - Nearly 47,000 habeas corpus petitions were filed by immigrants within the first 13 months of the second Trump administration.

The Independent - Federal judges have ruled in favor of immigrants' due process rights in approximately 7,000 cases since the policy change.

WHERE:

The Independent - The ruling was issued by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in Louisiana.

The Independent - The majority of lawsuits were filed in Texas.

WHEN:

The Independent - The judges stated that a bond hearing must be held within 90 days of the commencement of detention.

WHY:

The Independent - The ruling was based on the assertion that the vast majority of people held in ICE detention do not have criminal records and do not pose a threat to their communities.

The Independent - The ruling aims to address violations of due process rights for immigrants detained under the Trump administration's policies.

HOW:

The Independent - The court's decision requires the government to articulate an individualized justification for further detention without bond at the hearing.

(UPDATED July 4, 2026 06:12 UTC)

A panel of judges from the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in Louisiana has ruled that immigrants in ICE detention must be granted a bond hearing within 90 days of their arrest, marking the fourth federal court order to strike down a key aspect of Trump’s immigration policy. The judges emphasized that most individuals held in ICE detention do not have criminal records and do not pose a threat to their communities, aiming to protect due process rights for these immigrants. This ruling also requires the government to provide a specific justification for continued detention without bond during the hearing.