Immigrants file 18,000 habeas petitions to challenge ICE detention
Mar 12, 2026

Since Trump returned to the White House, immigrants filed more than 18,000 habeas petitions challenging their ICE detention in federal courts. This exceeded the total filed over the last three administrations combined. Immigration lawyers shifted strategies to argue for clients' release in district courts rather than immigration courts. The increase created a burden on federal prosecutors' offices, particularly in border states like Arizona and Texas.
Sources
- More Immigrants Are Challenging Their ICE Detention Than Ever Before
ProPublica·Feb 10, 2026·archived copy
- dailywire.com
Mar 12, 2026·archived copy
- The Trump administration made habeas corpus great again
reason.com·Feb 27, 2026·archived copy
- calonews.com
- A flood of habeas corpus petitions challenges Trump’s mass detention of immigrants
english.elpais.com·Mar 11, 2026·archived copy
- Migrants are challenging detentions in record numbers
investigativepost.org·Feb 12, 2026·archived copy
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