US appeals court strikes down Trump’s indefinite immigration detention policy

A US federal appeals court dealt a significant legal blow to the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement agenda on Tuesday, ruling that the government cannot detain immigrants indefinitely without providing bond hearings. The unanimous three-judge panel—which included a judge appointed by President Trump himself—found that the administration’s interpretation of its detention authority would have “sweeping and harmful consequences.” The panel wrote: “The government’s interpretation…would send a seismic shock through our immigration detention system and society, straining our already overcrowded detention infrastructure, incarcerating millions, separating families, and disrupting communities.”

Conditions and deaths in custody

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities have faced increasing scrutiny over overcrowding and deteriorating conditions. Representative Pramila Jayapal praised the ruling as a critical step for constitutional protections. She noted that the detained population reached 70,000 individuals on a single day in January, and that conditions have worsened, including inadequate food and water, medical neglect, and overcrowding. “The number of deaths in detention has soared as a result of the inhumane conditions, with an unprecedented 47 deaths occurring in ICE custody since Trump came into office in January 2025,” Jayapal said. She argued that the administration “has completely disregarded” the Due Process clause of the US Constitution.