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Jun 24, 2026 Major2
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Federal Judge Blocks Immigration Courthouse Arrests Nationwide in Trump Administration Setback
A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration's practice of making arrests at immigration courts nationwide, ruling that the policy reversal lacked adequate legal justification. The decision marks the second legal setback for the courthouse arrest practice since May and applies across all U.S. immigration courts.
Quick Facts
Who
Judge Casey Pitts
What
Federal judge barred arrests at immigration courts
When
Tuesday, June 24, 2026
Where
U.S. District Court, San Francisco
- Federal judge barred arrests at immigration courts
- Judge found Trump administration's policy reversal lacked sound reasoning
- Trump administration began making arrests at immigration courts after taking office
- Government dismissed cases before plainclothes agents made arrests in hallways
- DHS general counsel criticized ruling as judicial overreach
U.S. District Judge Casey Pitts of San Francisco issued a nationwide ruling on Tuesday barring the federal government from making arrests at immigration courts, effectively ending a practice that became widespread shortly after President Donald Trump took office in 2025. Judge Pitts, appointed by President Joe Biden, found that the Trump administration's reversal of the long-standing policy against courthouse arrests constituted "not merely unreasoned decision-making but a complete lack of decision-making." The judge emphasized that federal agencies are required under the Administrative Procedure Act of 1946 to provide sound reasoning for policy changes, and that authorities failed to address the documented "chilling effect" that arrests have on individuals' willingness to attend court hearings.
The ruling represents the second major legal setback for the administration's courthouse arrest policy. A federal judge in New York issued a similar prohibition in May, though that order was limited to New York courts. The latest decision invalidates the policy across the entire country. Judge Pitts also faulted the administration for holding detainees in nearby holding cells for periods exceeding the prescribed 12-hour limit.
Under the Trump administration's practice, immigration court hearings across the country often concluded with the government dismissing cases, creating an opportunity for plainclothes federal agents to make arrests in courthouse hallways in coordination with Department of Homeland Security attorneys. James Percival, the DHS general counsel, criticized the ruling as judicial overreach, arguing that immigration judges' deportation orders should result in immediate custody just as criminal court sentences do. He characterized the decision as "naked judicial activism in service of an anti-American, open borders agenda." However, Judge Pitts' reasoning focused narrowly on the procedural requirement that agencies justify policy reversals through reasoned decision-making rather than on the merits of immigration enforcement itself.
Why This Matters
This ruling directly impacts how federal immigration enforcement operates nationwide. By blocking courthouse arrests without proper procedural justification, the court has reinforced that government agencies must follow Administrative Procedure Act requirements when reversing long-standing policies. For immigrants and their advocates, the decision provides immediate protection from surprise arrests during court appearances, reducing the "chilling effect" that discourages people from attending hearings. For the Trump administration, it signals judicial limits on executive immigration enforcement discretion, potentially affecting how aggressively the administration can pursue deportations. This sets a precedent for challenging future policy reversals on procedural grounds.
Timeline & Sources
Jan 1, 1946
WireAdministrative Procedure Act enacted, requiring federal agencies to provide reasoned justifications for their decisions
Jan 1, 2025
WireTrump administration takes office and begins implementing arrests at immigration courts
Jun 24, 2026
WireJudge Casey Pitts issues nationwide ruling blocking immigration courthouse arrests across all U.S. courts