Federal Judges Struggle to Keep Up With Surge of Immigration Detainee Petitions

Judges across California are facing a flood of habeas corpus petitions from immigrants detained under the Trump administration's 'mandatory detention' policy.

Apr. 20, 2026 at 1:06am

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A serene, cinematic painting of a solitary immigration detention center, its facade bathed in warm, golden light and deep shadows, conveying a sense of isolation and melancholy.The surge of habeas corpus petitions from immigration detainees has overwhelmed California's federal courts, exposing the human toll of the Trump administration's aggressive enforcement policies.Adelanto Today

Federal judges in California are facing a surge of habeas corpus petitions from immigrants detained by immigration authorities, with one judge issuing a rare sanction against a government attorney overwhelmed by the caseload. The Trump administration's policy of 'mandatory detention' for all immigrants arrested has led to thousands of people being held indefinitely, even those with no criminal records, overwhelming the court system.

Why it matters

The flood of habeas petitions highlights the tension between the Trump administration's aggressive immigration enforcement policies and the constitutional rights of detainees. Judges are struggling to ensure due process is upheld, even as government lawyers struggle to keep up with the caseload.

The details

In one case, Judge Troy Nunley of the Eastern District of California sanctioned a Department of Justice attorney for failing to comply with his order to release an immigrant detainee. The attorney claimed he was 'drowning' in over 300 similar cases in the last three months. Nunley's district has received over 2,700 habeas petitions since January, compared to just 18 in 2024, as the Trump administration's 'mandatory detention' policy has led to the incarceration of many longtime U.S. residents with no criminal records.

  • In the last year, the Eastern District of California has received more petitions from immigration detainees than almost any other jurisdiction in the United States.
  • Since last July, the Department of Homeland Security has ordered that all immigrants it arrests are subject to 'mandatory detention' - a policy that had previously only applied to those caught at the border.
  • In the last year, federal judges in California's Eastern District have ordered almost 2,000 people freed.

The players

Judge Troy Nunley

The chief judge of the Eastern District of California, who has been dealing with the surge of habeas corpus petitions from immigration detainees.

Jonathan Yu

A Department of Justice attorney who was sanctioned by Judge Nunley for failing to comply with an order to release an immigrant detainee.

My Khanh Ngo

A senior staff attorney at the ACLU Immigrants' Rights Project, who says the Trump administration's 'mandatory detention' policy is unconstitutional.

Jean Reisz

The co-director of the USC Immigration Clinic, who says lawyers are working to get pro bono groups trained on effectively arguing habeas cases.

Judge Sunshine Sykes

A federal judge in California's Central District who wrote a fiery decision saying the Trump administration is inflicting 'terror against noncitizens'.

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What they’re saying

“We're up all night doing these cases.”

— Judge Troy Nunley, Chief Judge, Eastern District of California

“The majority of the cases that we see are cases where people should not be detained. They should be receiving hearings to determine whether or not they are to remain in this country, and until they receive those hearings, they should be free.”

— Judge Troy Nunley, Chief Judge, Eastern District of California

“Detaining people and not giving them the chance to get out of detention is a way of coercing people to give up their claims.”

— My Khanh Ngo, Senior Staff Attorney, ACLU Immigrants' Rights Project

What’s next

Experts say the legal battle over the Trump administration's 'mandatory detention' policy is likely headed to the Supreme Court, as federal judges across multiple circuits have tried to compel the government to resume bond hearings for detainees.

The takeaway

The surge of habeas corpus petitions from immigration detainees has overwhelmed the federal court system in California, highlighting the constitutional tensions between the Trump administration's aggressive enforcement policies and the due process rights of those being detained. Judges are struggling to ensure fairness and uphold the law, even as government lawyers are drowning in the caseload.