Four Tacoma immigration judges moved to deny bond to detained immigrants earlier in the decade, signaling a broader shift under the Trump administration.

In July, ICE and the Board of Immigration Appeals aligned on mandating detention for many long-term residents, expanding capacity and creating a surge in detainees.

The judges concluded Congress never authorized bond hearings for certain arrivals, basing this on a 1996 law that treats some long-time residents as applicants for admission subject to detention.

Personal detainee stories illustrate the policy’s impact, including cases where bond was denied or later granted on appeal, highlighting ongoing family and community disruption.

Some detainees have been released or ordered released on bond during ongoing court battles, while others await resolution, underscoring a contentious legal landscape.

Victor Cruz’s case is emblematic: released after a bond hearing, he later won his immigration case, illustrating the mixed outcomes within the system.

Judges argued the law draws a line between new border entrants and long-term residents, with the latter facing detention until asylum decisions are made.

The decision relied on a long-standing distinction between recent entrants and established residents, guiding who is eligible for bond.

The policy’s broader impact includes higher detention costs and planned expansion to about 92,300 beds, along with disruptions to detainees’ lives.

Legal challenges and a pending Supreme Court review followed appellate rulings for and against the administration’s bond policy, fueling ongoing litigation.

Tacoma lawyers expressed surprise at the policy’s reach, noting few precedents elsewhere and signaling the start of subsequent lawsuits challenging the practice.

Northwest Immigrant Rights Project filed a lawsuit in March 2025 challenging the Tacoma judges’ approach, highlighting concerns about disregarding decades of precedent.