Judge Leaves Courthouse Arrest Policies Vacated During Appeal
A federal judge refused to pause a nationwide vacatur of expanded courthouse arrest policies, leaving the rules out of effect while the administration appeals.
Immigration Courts
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Federal courthouse-arrest ruling faces New York compliance test
A nationwide ruling vacated broad ICE courthouse-arrest policies, while Manhattan arrests and access litigation test what remains allowed.
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Supreme Court petitions put immigration bond hearings on a fast track
Two pending Supreme Court petitions could determine whether some immigrants detained inside the U.S. can receive individualized bond hearings, but no nationwide rule has changed.
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Immigration courts are moving faster as deportation orders rise
EOIR data show a shrinking immigration-court backlog alongside rising removal and in-absentia orders as hearings accelerate and preparation time narrows.
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DHS allows some affirmative asylum cases to go to immigration court without an interview
An interim final rule effective July 28 allows USCIS to refer certain affirmative asylum applications to immigration court without first conducting an asylum interview.
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DHS begins sending some asylum cases to immigration court without interviews
A new interim final rule allows USCIS to refer certain affirmative asylum applications to immigration court without first conducting an interview, while preserving interviews before asylum is granted or denied.
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Federal legal-services contract for migrant children expires
A federal contract serving about 20,000 unaccompanied children expired July 31, leaving providers uncertain about funding and continued immigration-court representation.
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Immigration courts are issuing more in-absentia removal orders
Immigration courts are clearing cases faster, but missed hearings and in-absentia removal orders are rising, putting asylum claims and due process at issue.
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BIA tightens rules for missed immigration-court hearings
A precedential BIA ruling says judges must proceed in absentia after a properly notified respondent misses court and DHS proves removability, including in cases involving children.
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Federal judge orders access protections at 2 New York immigration courts
A July 21 injunction protects public access to eligible in-person hearings at two Manhattan immigration courts while preserving security and enforcement authority.
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Immigration court backlog falls as mega hearings drive more no-shows
EOIR says the immigration-court backlog is falling, but larger hearing blocks, shorter notice and rising no-shows are increasing in-absentia removal orders.
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Ninth Circuit Limits Expanded No-Bond Immigration Detention Policy
A 2-1 Ninth Circuit ruling gives covered detainees a chance to seek bond hearings, but it does not guarantee release or apply automatically nationwide.
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GAO report: why immigration courts use more remote hearings and what to watch
GAO-26-108110 (July 15, 2026) finds remote immigration hearings are common, but interpretation tech limits raise access and due-process questions.
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Supreme Court limits TPS challenges in Mullin v. Doe (June 25, 2026)
June 25, 2026: The Supreme Court ruled that most statutory (non-constitutional) TPS termination challenges face major judicial-review limits—making stays harder to win.
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7th Circuit: Riley deadline may be equitably tolled in CAT/withholding cases
A July 6, 2026 7th Circuit decision says some late-filed CAT/withholding-only petitions after Riley v. Bondi can proceed via equitable tolling.
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Fifth Circuit orders 90-day bond hearings for prolonged ICE detention
A divided Fifth Circuit ruled July 2 that some prolonged ICE detainees must receive an individualized bond hearing within 90 days; removal cases continue.
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Supreme Court sends immigration-judge speech fight back to lower courts
The Supreme Court revived the immigration-judge speech case on May 26, 2026, sending it back without ruling on the First Amendment claim.