Federal Judge Condemns White House for 'Terror' Against Immigrants
A federal judge has issued a scathing decision accusing the Trump administration of terrorizing immigrants and recklessly violating the law in its aggressive efforts to deport millions of people. U.S. District Judge Sunshine Sykes in Riverside, California, stated that the White House poses significant threats and has extended its violence to its own citizens, referencing the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, both U.S. citizens protesting immigration enforcement.
Legal Violations and Court Orders
Judge Sykes highlighted that the administration violated her December ruling, which found it illegally denying detained immigrants a chance for release. She ordered the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to provide detainees with notice of potential bond eligibility and access to a phone to call an attorney within an hour. Additionally, Sykes overturned a September immigration court ruling that the administration used to justify its mandatory detention policy for those suspected of being in the U.S. illegally.
The White House deferred comment to DHS, which asserted that the Supreme Court has repeatedly overruled lower courts on mandatory detention, claiming ICE adheres to all court decisions until they are overturned. Historically, individuals without criminal records could request bond hearings, but the Trump administration reversed this practice, leading to thousands of habeas corpus petitions filed in federal court seeking release.
Judicial Backlash and Contempt Findings
Since Trump's inauguration, over 20,000 habeas corpus cases have been filed, with judges granting many petitions but later finding the administration non-compliant with release orders. In a rare move, a federal judge in Minnesota held a Trump administration lawyer in contempt for failing to return identification documents to an immigrant ordered released. Similarly, a judge in New Jersey demanded explanations for missed deadlines in bond hearings, emphasizing that judicial orders must never be violated.
Judge Sykes ruled in November and December that the mandatory detention policy violated congressional acts and extended her decision nationwide. She criticized the administration for harming families and communities by denying due process and disputed claims that the crackdown targeted only serious criminals, noting most arrests did not fit this description.
Impact and Future Implications
Matt Adams, an attorney for plaintiffs in the lawsuit, expressed hope that Sykes' ruling would end mandatory detention and restore bond hearings. The case underscores deep concerns over executive branch actions and their effects on immigration enforcement and civil liberties in the United States.
