A U.S. federal court has dealt a setback to the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement efforts, blocking arrests at immigration courthouses nationwide.
In a ruling issued Tuesday, US District Judge Casey Pitts barred federal authorities from detaining migrants outside immigration courts after their asylum hearings. The judge found that the policy violated the Administrative Procedure Act, saying immigration authorities failed to provide adequate justification for the practice.
Judge Pitts also noted that the presence of enforcement agents at courthouses created a chilling effect, discouraging migrants from appearing for scheduled hearings. The policy, introduced following President Donald Trump’s return to office, involved Homeland Security agents waiting outside immigration courts to arrest migrants as they exited proceedings.
Immigration advocates argued that the tactic placed migrants in an impossible situation, as missing court appearances can lead to serious legal consequences, including deportation.
However, Homeland Security officials defended the policy, insisting that individuals ordered removed by immigration judges should be subject to enforcement actions.
The decision represents another legal hurdle for the Trump administration as it seeks to implement tougher immigration measures across the United States.
