As of May 15, hundreds of judges have ruled against the Trump administration's expansion of ICE detentions, resulting in nearly 10,800 rulings. A database compiled by POLITICO highlights several judges who have significantly influenced the judicial response to this policy, including those appointed by both Republican and Democratic presidents.
Judge Clay Land, appointed by George W. Bush and based in Georgia, has ruled against the administration more than 370 times since a new ICE policy was adopted. His rulings often call for bond hearings for detainees he believes were improperly detained.
In Michigan, judges including Hala Jarbou (a Trump appointee) and others have collectively rejected ICE’s mandatory detention in over 650 cases. Notably, four of the ten judges who frequently oppose the administration's policy are Trump appointees.
Judge Kathleen Cardone, also a Bush appointee in Texas, has ruled against the administration 210 times, arguing that ICE's mass detention policy violates due process rights. Her decisions have influenced other judges in Texas to release detainees despite the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals upholding ICE's policies.
Judge Kyle Dudek, appointed by Trump, has taken a mixed approach, siding with the administration in some cases and opposing it in others. His decisions are now constrained by appeals court rulings that reject ICE's policies.
Judge Leon Schydlower, a Biden appointee, has ruled in favor of ICE more than 140 times, following the 5th Circuit's rulings. He has rejected arguments for bond hearings based on due process rights, unlike many of his peers.
Judge Jodi Dishman, another Trump appointee, expressed concern over the human impact of her rulings while still siding with ICE. Other judges, including Rodolfo Ruiz and Daniel Traynor, have also shown reluctance in their decisions, acknowledging the humanitarian implications.
In Minnesota, Judge Jeffrey Bryan has ruled against the administration in all 62 of his cases related to ICE's operations, reflecting significant pushback from federal courts during a period of heightened enforcement known as Operation Metro Surge. This operation led to a surge in cases, with judges in Minnesota rejecting ICE's detention efforts approximately 90% of the time.
