California Judge Slams Trump Immigration Policies in Harsh Court Decision

A federal judge in California issued a blistering ruling against the Trump administration's immigration enforcement tactics, ordering officials to notify detained immigrants of their right to seek bond hearings. The judge criticized the administration for ignoring previous court orders and accused officials of terrorizing immigrant communities.

A California federal judge delivered a harsh rebuke of the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement practices in a strongly-worded court ruling issued Wednesday evening.

U.S. District Judge Sunshine Sykes, based in Riverside, California, directed the Department of Homeland Security to inform detained immigrants nationwide about her previous rulings that may make them eligible for bond release hearings.

“The threats posed by the executive branch cannot be viewed in isolation,” Sykes stated in her Wednesday decision.

The controversy stems from policy changes made under Trump’s presidency. While previous administrations typically allowed immigrants without criminal backgrounds to request bond hearings before immigration judges during their court proceedings, the Trump White House implemented a policy requiring mandatory detention for most cases.

Judge Sykes, appointed by Democratic President Joe Biden, had previously ruled in November and December that this policy change was unlawful and applied her decision across the nation. Despite these rulings, the current Republican administration has persisted in denying bond hearings, leading to a flood of legal challenges.

Federal court data reviewed by the Associated Press shows more than 20,000 habeas corpus petitions have been filed since Trump took office, as individual immigrants seek their release through separate federal court cases.

The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to requests for comment on Thursday.

In her Wednesday ruling, Sykes criticized the administration for ignoring her previous decisions, stating they had “wasted valuable time and resources” while denying immigrants their “liberty, economic stability, and fundamental dignity.”

The judge also challenged assertions that the immigration crackdown primarily targets dangerous criminals, noting that most arrested individuals don’t match that profile.

“Americans have expressed deep concerns over unlawful, wanton acts by the executive branch,” Sykes wrote. “Beyond its terror against noncitizens, the executive branch has extended its violence on its own citizens, killing two American citizens— Renée Good and Alex Pretti in Minnesota.”