Trump-era “no-bond” practice persisted for years in Tacoma immigration cases, report says
Key Takeaways
- It has been reported that a Trump-era policy of routinely denying bond to detained immigrants continued for multiple years in Tacoma, Washington.
- The practice affected people in removal proceedings — including asylum seekers and noncitizens with criminal histories — by keeping them detained pending hearings.
- Immigration bond decisions are made by immigration judges (EOIR) but DHS/ICE and federal prosecutors can push for detention under statute; mandatory detention under INA 236(c) applies in certain criminal cases.
- The policy’s persistence underscores how local practice and federal enforcement choices can lengthen detention and complicate access to counsel for vulnerable immigrants.
What was reported
It has been reported that policies developed during the Trump administration led to a sustained pattern in Tacoma of opposing bond and keeping immigrants detained for long periods. The report alleges that immigration authorities and prosecutors in the region routinely sought detention or opposed release at bond hearings, producing lengthy custody while cases moved through the immigration court system.
Legal context and how bond works
Immigration bond is a civil mechanism set by immigration judges within the Department of Justice’s Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR); it is not the same as criminal bail. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and, in certain cases, federal prosecutors can argue that a person should remain detained. Under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) section 236(c), some noncitizens convicted of specific crimes are subject to mandatory detention without bond. Policies and prosecutorial practices beyond those statutory limits, however, can affect whether detained people get an opportunity to be released while their removal cases proceed.
Human impact and what this means now
For people caught in removal proceedings, prolonged detention can hurt their ability to prepare a defense, meet with lawyers, gather evidence for asylum or cancellation claims, and maintain family and employment ties. Even after the Trump administration ended, local enforcement culture and staffing levels can prolong similar outcomes. If you or a loved one is detained, seek legal counsel quickly; lawyers can file bond motions with the immigration court, seek custody reviews with ICE, or pursue federal habeas relief in limited circumstances. Community legal clinics and nonprofits often provide assistance for bond hearings and detention visitation.
Source: Original Article