ICE Ends Bond Hearings for Millions in Nationwide Detention

The Trump administration has implemented a new immigration policy significantly expanding detention for undocumented immigrants by eliminating their eligibility for bond hearings during deportation proceedings. Under a reinterpretation of a 1990s immigration law, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) now mandates detention for all unauthorized immigrants, including those who have lived in the U.S. for years, with bond release decisions shifted from immigration judges to ICE officers on a rare, discretionary basis. This policy change, coordinated between the Department of Homeland Security and the Justice Department, allows for potentially indefinite detention lasting months or years while cases progress, marking a sharp departure from prior practice that considered flight risk and criminal history. The shift has sparked criticism and concern at local levels, such as in Butler County, Ohio, where officials and residents noted that 70% of ICE detainees have no criminal convictions, contradicting prior assertions that deportations would target primarily criminals. Immigration advocacy groups warn the new rules could affect millions of immigrants and face legal challenges, while the administration defends the policy as enforcing the law as written to protect public safety.