Immigrant Detention Release Requests Soar 400% in 2025

Judiciary report shows spike in habeas corpus petitions as Trump administration ramps up immigration enforcement.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

According to a new judiciary report, the number of release requests filed by immigrants in detention facilities spiked by 434% in the last fiscal year, with the federal court in Boston seeing a 3,514% surge in habeas corpus petitions as the Trump administration has intensified immigration enforcement across the United States.

Why it matters

The sharp rise in release requests highlights the growing challenges faced by immigrants in detention and the strain on the judicial system as the government has taken a hardline stance on immigration. The data reflects the human impact of the administration's policies and the need for reforms to address the growing backlog of cases.

The details

The Administrative Office for the U.S. Courts reported that detained immigrants filed 2,305 motions for writs of habeas corpus, or challenges to their detention, during the 12-month period ending September 30, 2025. This represents an increase of 1,873 petitions from the prior year, a 434% jump.

  • The data covers the 12-month period ending September 30, 2025.
  • In fiscal year 2024, there were only 7 habeas corpus petitions filed in the federal court in Boston.

The players

Administrative Office for the U.S. Courts

The agency that oversees the federal court system and provided the data on the spike in habeas corpus petitions from detained immigrants.

President Donald Trump

The Trump administration has ramped up immigration enforcement across the United States, leading to the surge in detention and release requests.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

The takeaway

The dramatic increase in habeas corpus petitions from detained immigrants underscores the human toll of the Trump administration's hardline immigration policies and the need for reforms to address the growing backlog of cases in the judicial system.