The Trump administration’s immigration strategy suffered a major legal setback after a federal judge extended an order prohibiting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from making arrests inside immigration courts to the entire United States.
The ruling was issued by Federal Judge P. Casey Pitts of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, who determined that the policies used by ICE and the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) to detain immigrants in court lacked adequate justification and violated federal administrative procedures.
The ruling represents one of the biggest recent setbacks for President Donald Trump’s mass deportation policy.
Arrests and immigration raids banned
Federal judge blocks Trump’s policy of making arrests in immigration courts across the country https://t.co/4AEI4QGdDz
– CNN en Español (@CNNEE) June 24, 2026
In recent months, there have been frequent reports of immigration agents waiting in court hallways to detain immigrants immediately after their hearings.
In many cases, detentions occurred when a person lost their immigration case or received a deportation order.
Immigrant advocacy organizations, lawyers, and civil rights groups denounced this practice, saying it sowed fear among immigrant communities and discouraged them from attending court hearings.
The scenes of families crying and lawyers trying to intervene during the arrests drew criticism both inside and outside the United States.
The judge questions the government’s actions
#June 23 | Federal Judge Casey Pitts in California extended the ban on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents making arrests in immigration courts across the United States to the entire country.
“ICE and EOIR did not provide any explanations… pic.twitter.com/CT8bWFUeDQ
— El Diario (@eldiario) June 24, 2026
In his decision, Pitts concluded that ICE and EOIR did not provide substantiated explanations to justify the implementation of these measures.
The judge also prohibited detained immigrants from being held for long periods in processing facilities while awaiting decisions on their immigration status.
The order expands a previous decision issued in December 2025 that applied only within the jurisdiction of San Francisco but will now have nationwide scope.
Impact on Immigration Hearings
#Latest | 🔴🇺🇸 The U.S. District Court for the District of California issued a final order preventing ICE agents from making arrests inside federal and immigration courts in the state. pic.twitter.com/H4p9iqesNR
— heraldousa (@heraldousa) June 24, 2026
Immigration experts noted that the presence of ICE agents in the courts led to a significant drop in the number of immigrants attending their hearings.
Many chose not to appear for fear of being arrested, which led to automatic deportation orders being issued in their absence.
Immigrant advocates argue that the new ruling could restore some confidence in the immigration court system and ensure that people appear before judges without fear of being arrested as they leave the courtroom.
The legal battle continues
The decision has already sparked political reactions.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis criticized the ruling and accused federal judges of interfering with the enforcement of immigration laws.
The Trump administration is expected to file an appeal in the coming days.
Legal analysts believe it is likely that the case will ultimately be reviewed by the U.S. Supreme Court, where the conservative majority could have the final say on the future of this immigration practice.
In the meantime, the court order will remain in effect nationwide, marking a new chapter in the debate over immigration and due process in the United States.
Filed under: Arrests and immigration raids banned