ICE Denies Bond Hearings for Millions of Undocumented Immigrants

The Trump administration has issued a new policy directing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to deny bond hearings to millions of immigrants who entered the country illegally, requiring that they remain in detention for the entire duration of their deportation proceedings, which can last months or years. This marks a significant reversal from decades of legal precedent that allowed immigration judges to grant release on bond if individuals were not deemed a flight risk. The change, detailed in a July 8 memo from acting ICE Director Todd Lyons, is expected to dramatically increase the detention population, with ICE's capacity set to expand to 100,000 beds following a recent $45 billion funding boost from Congress. The policy will apply retroactively to anyone who crossed the U.S.-Mexico border illegally over the past several decades, including those who arrived during the Biden administration. Legal experts and immigrant advocates have criticized the move as a 'radical departure' from past practice, warning it could lead to overcrowded facilities and limit judicial oversight, while immigration hawks argue it is necessary for effective enforcement. The new policy is anticipated to face legal challenges.