Federal Judge Bans Arrests at Immigration Courthouse

On June 23, 2026, U.S. District Judge Casey Pitts from San Francisco blocked ICE from making arrests at immigration courts, citing the arrest policy as a violation of the Administrative Procedure Act.

According to Judge Pitts, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) failed to provide reasonable explanations for their actions. Last year, the Trump administration implemented a list of new policies that removed previous limitations on immigration enforcement tactics. This led to a sharp increase in arrests at immigration courthouses where people were required to appear in order to maintain lawful status or to fight their deportation.

Judge Pitts stated that The Administrative Procedure Act requires government agencies to provide a reasonable explanation for their course of action, something he believes ICE did not do when choosing to increase arrests at Immigration Courthouses. He stated that Ice was not, "arresting individuals who appeared for criminal or civil violations that were unrelated to the arrest but were arresting non-citizens for the very immigration offense for which they were appearing in immigration court." This ruling has been implemented nationwide.

While this ruling is a step in the right direction, it is still important for you to know your rights and find support when needed. The team at Bennett & Harker is here for you and can help you understand your options. Contact us for a consultation here.