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Judge Blocks ICE Arrests in Immigration Courts Nationwide
🇬🇹 Guatemala /Crime & Justice

Judge Blocks ICE Arrests in Immigration Courts Nationwide

From Prensa Libre · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • A federal judge has extended a nationwide block on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests within immigration courts.
  • The ruling, which criticizes ICE's policies as arbitrary, significantly impacts the Trump administration's mass deportation efforts.
  • Critics argue these arrests, particularly in 'sensitive locations,' have led to immigrants missing hearings and receiving deportation orders in absentia.

A federal judge in California has expanded a nationwide prohibition against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents making arrests inside immigration courts, delivering a significant blow to former President Donald Trump's mass deportation policies.

U.S. District Judge P. Casey Pitts ruled that ICE and the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) failed to provide reasoned explanations for their actions, deeming the challenged policies "arbitrary and capricious." The ruling, extending a December order, prevents ICE officers and EOIR from waiting in hallways to detain immigrants who lose their cases.

The decision also prohibits ICE from holding detainees for prolonged periods in their record facilities. The Trump administration had previously rescinded restrictions on immigration arrests in "sensitive locations" such as hospitals, religious centers, schools, and immigration courts as part of its mass deportation campaign. Images of arrests in immigration courts, often accompanied by the crying of families and resistance from lawyers, drew widespread criticism.

ICE and the EOIR did not provide reasoned explanations for their actions, the Court concludes that each of the challenged policies is arbitrary and capricious, in contravention of the APA.

— Judge P. Casey PittsThe federal judge explaining his decision to block ICE arrests in immigration courts.

These tactics have reportedly caused a sharp decline in court appearances, with many immigrants receiving deportation orders in absentia for failing to attend hearings. Judge Pitts' initial December order applied only to ICE's San Francisco jurisdiction. The current ruling's nationwide scope is expected to face an appeal, potentially reaching the Supreme Court.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis criticized the decision, calling it "another example of biased judges hindering the enforcement of immigration laws." The legal battle over these policies is anticipated to continue.

This is another example of biased judges hindering the enforcement of immigration laws.

— Ron DeSantisFlorida Governor Ron DeSantis criticizing the judge's ruling.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Prensa Libre in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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