Federal Judge Overturns Immigration Board's Ruling on Trump Detention Policy

Ruling finds mandatory detention policy for illegal immigrants already in U.S. is unlawful

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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A federal judge in California has thrown out a decision by the Board of Immigration Appeals that backed the Trump administration's policy of mandatory detention for illegal immigrants arrested in nationwide enforcement operations, even if they were already living in the U.S. The judge found the federal government failed to comply with an earlier order declaring the underlying policy unlawful.

Why it matters

This ruling is a setback for the Trump administration's efforts to expand the use of mandatory detention for illegal immigrants, which had been traditionally limited to those arriving at the border. The decision affirms that federal immigration law only allows mandatory detention for 'applicants for admission' during case proceedings, not those already living in the U.S.

The details

U.S. District Judge Sunshine Sykes in Riverside, California, vacated the Board of Immigration Appeals' decision that had confirmed the Trump administration's policy change to broaden mandatory detention. The judge found the federal government failed to comply with her earlier order declaring the underlying policy unlawful.

  • On February 18, 2026, Judge Sykes threw out the Board of Immigration Appeals' decision backing the Trump administration's detention policy.

The players

Sunshine Sykes

A U.S. District Judge in Riverside, California who overturned the Board of Immigration Appeals' decision supporting the Trump administration's expanded mandatory detention policy for illegal immigrants.

Board of Immigration Appeals

An administrative board that operates under the Department of Justice and had previously confirmed the Trump administration's policy change to broaden mandatory detention of illegal immigrants.

Trump administration

The former presidential administration that had sought to expand the use of mandatory detention for illegal immigrants beyond just those arriving at the border.

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What’s next

The federal government may appeal the judge's ruling overturning the Board of Immigration Appeals' decision.

The takeaway

This court ruling is a setback for the Trump administration's efforts to expand mandatory detention of illegal immigrants, affirming that such detention is only lawful for those arriving at the border, not those already living in the U.S.