Judges Overwhelmingly Reject Trump’s ICE Detention Expansion as Class Cases Gain Traction

Overview

• At least 225 judges in more than 700 cases have ruled against the July 8 policy, compared with just eight rulings supporting it, according to Politico’s analysis reported Friday.
• The policy reclassifies many long‑term U.S. residents as “seeking admission,” triggering mandatory detention and prompting arrests at workplaces, courthouses, and immigration check‑ins.
• Judges have voiced frustration at the litigation surge, with U.S. District Judge Christina Snyder citing an “onslaught” tied to “widespread illegal detention practices” in a Nov. 21 order.
• Recent class certifications in Massachusetts and Colorado, plus a California judge’s approval of a nationwide class, position courts to require immediate bond hearings for detainees.
• DHS is publicly defending the approach and preparing appeals that could reach the Supreme Court, with Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin asserting the policy reflects enforcement of the law.