Judge Bans ICE Arrests in Immigration Courts Nationwide

A federal judge has nationwide prohibited U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from making arrests inside immigration courts, a decision that significantly impacts the Trump administration's mass deportation policies. U.S. District Judge P. Casey Pitts of the Northern District of California extended a December order, preventing ICE and Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) officials from apprehending immigrants who lose their cases in courthouse hallways. The judge, appointed by former President Joe Biden, stated that ICE and EOIR failed to provide reasoned explanations for their actions, deeming the challenged policies arbitrary and capricious under the Administrative Procedure Act. The ruling also bars ICE from holding immigrants in its processing facilities for prolonged durations. The Trump administration had previously removed restrictions on immigration arrests in sensitive locations like hospitals, religious centers, schools, and immigration courts as part of its mass deportation efforts. Images of arrests in immigration courts, often accompanied by the crying and resistance of families and lawyers, drew widespread criticism of the White House. Court records also indicated a sharp decline in judicial appearances, with many immigrants receiving deportation orders in absentia for failing to attend hearings. Pitts had initially issued a limited ban in December, applicable only to ICE's San Francisco jurisdiction, due to a Supreme Court decision restricting judges from issuing national bans without considering the collective nature of lawsuits. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis criticized the ruling, calling it an example of "partisan judges throwing sand in the gears of immigration enforcement." The Trump administration is expected to appeal the decision.