US judge throws out immigration board's ruling endorsing Trump mass detention policy

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Reuters

February 18, 2026 8:45 PM EST Updated 7 hours ago


Feb 18 (Reuters) - A federal judge threw out on Wednesday an administrative board's decision endorsing the Trump administration's policy of subjecting thousands of people arrested during its immigration crackdown to mandatory detention. U.S. District Judge Sunshine Sykes in Riverside, California, vacated the decision by the Board of Immigration Appeals after finding the administration had failed to comply with her earlier order declaring unlawful the underlying policy of denying detainees the chance to seek release on bond.

Sykes' Wednesday ruling, in a class action lawsuit that covers migrants nationwide, is more sweeping than decisions by hundreds of other U.S. judges holding the policy is unlawful and ordering detainees to be freed or given bond hearings.

Sykes, appointed by former Democratic President Joe Biden, called the administration's actions "shameless" and accused it of trying to continue its "campaign of illegal action" by still refusing bond hearings despite her prior ruling. "Respondents have far crossed the boundaries of constitutional conduct," Sykes wrote.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Department of Justice, which oversees the board, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-judge-throws-out-immigration-boards-ruling-endorsing-trump-mass-detention-2026-02-19/

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Link to ORDER (PDF) - https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/legaldocs/lbvgmqqblvq/02182026bond.pdf

[sinkingfeeling]

1. They will appeal all way to the TSF SCOTUS.

[OldBaldy1701E]

3. Nah... this Judge was appointed by Biden.

They will just decry that judge and then ignore anything they say.

You know.. like they pretty much have been doing with all of them.

[BumRushDaShow]

4. But in a suprising development

FINALLY (that I have run across) someone in 45's administration IS getting fined for violations of court orders - https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143618435 ($500 per day... at least to start).

[OldBaldy1701E]

5. Until there is proof that they have paid one cent from their own pockets, I will stand by my statement.

Having a bunch of kooks ante up on behalf of the person does not count as 'paying a fine'. Neither does misappropriation of official funds.

So, have they paid anything yet? I am trying to find out, but I don't seem to be able to find much on it.

[BumRushDaShow]

6. "Until there is proof that they have paid one cent from their own pockets,"

That's not gonna happen with government employees in their personal capacity.

But after all the efforts that D.C. District Chief Judge James Boasberg has been going through to have similar contempt punishments doled out for similar court violations (where he was partially smacked down by 2 different panels from the appellate court from doing it but permitted to continue his investigations into who to apply the contempt to), THAT action in MN, is the first that I could find that actually "happened".

Baby steps. Could be a prick-sized crack in a dam.

[OldBaldy1701E]

7. We will see, I guess. Most dams spring lots of leaks and still operate just fine for decades.

I find that prospect unacceptable.

[BumRushDaShow]

8. Well the GOP's dam

is cracking and springing leaks left and right on its own, as the revolving door has been unlocked, and loons are leaving.

Let's hope that continues!

[wolfie001]

2. A few bulwarks left against a fascist administration