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Federal judge blocks Trump policy of making arrests at immigration courts nationwide
CNN • • nation
Key Points:
- A federal judge in California has issued a nationwide injunction blocking the Trump administration’s policy of making arrests at immigration courts, ending a controversial practice that raised concerns about due process.
- The policy, initiated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) last year, involved detaining migrants in courthouse hallways shortly after their hearings, which advocates argued created a climate of fear that discouraged court attendance.
- Judge P. Casey Pitts ruled the policy “arbitrary and capricious,” highlighting its chilling effect on noncitizens’ participation in court proceedings and criticizing the administration for removing previous restrictions without rational explanation.
- The ruling is a significant setback for the Trump administration, which had rescinded longstanding guidance limiting immigration enforcement near courthouses to better apprehend dangerous individuals.
- Civil rights attorneys praised the decision, emphasizing that courthouses should be safe spaces for justice rather than locations where immigrants must risk arrest to access their legal rights.
