Mass Detention on the Docket: ICE's Policy Faces a Supreme Court Test

Federal judges have overwhelmingly blocked ICE’s plan to detain tens of thousands without bond, with roughly 460 district judges ruling against it and nine of 11 federal circuits siding against the policy; only a small number of Republican-appointed appellate judges dissented. The administration argues the 1996 law allows mass detention of anyone in the U.S. without permission, while opponents say the move distorts the statute and tramples due process. As the case moves to the Supreme Court, observers note a divergence among lower courts and warn the Court could either uphold a sweeping policy or check it, potentially reshaping detention practices for years to come.