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A federal appeals court has ruled that migrants detained by the Department of Homeland Security do not have a right to bond hearings in certain immigration cases, marking the second such appellate decision in recent weeks.
The ruling from the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals follows a similar decision last month by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Together, the decisions represent a legal victory for the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies.
“MASSIVE COURT VICTORY against activist judges and for President Trump’s law and order agenda!” Attorney General Pam Bondi wrote on X. She added that the court determined migrants “can be detained without [a bond hearing],” saying the ruling reflects what she called a clear interpretation of federal law.
The 8th Circuit covers several states, including Minnesota, Missouri and Indiana, meaning the decision will affect immigration detention practices in those jurisdictions.
The dispute centers on whether migrants detained under certain immigration law provisions are entitled to bond hearings before an immigration judge. Bond hearings allow detainees to seek release while their immigration cases proceed.
Supporters of the rulings say the decisions will allow immigration authorities to detain individuals more consistently during removal proceedings. Critics argue the rulings could lead to prolonged detention without an opportunity for migrants to challenge their confinement.
Immigration advocacy groups are expected to continue challenging the policy in court. Some have already sought a broader review of the earlier ruling by the 5th Circuit, and the issue could ultimately reach the U.S. Supreme Court.
The ruling follows a massive increase in deportations during the president’s first year of his second term. In December, the Department of Homeland Security said more than 2.5 million immigrants had left the United States as a result of the administration’s immigration policies, including an estimated 1.9 million self-deportations and more than 622,000 formal deportations.
The DHS also stated at the time that, “From May to November, seven consecutive months, the United States Border Patrol (USBP) released ZERO illegal aliens into the country.”