The administration of former President Donald Trump has implemented new guidelines that significantly limit the ability of undocumented immigrants to secure bond hearings while detained. This directive from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency mandates that individuals fighting deportation must remain in detention throughout their removal proceedings, a process that can last several months or even years.
According to a memo confirmed by both ICE and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), migrants will no longer have the opportunity to apply for bond unless they are deemed a public safety threat. This change, issued by acting ICE Director Todd Lyons, effectively ends a practice that allowed many immigrants to seek release while contesting their deportation cases. The new rules are likely to increase the number of individuals held in immigration detention facilities across the United States.
An ICE spokesperson characterized the new memo as a move to “close a loophole to our nation’s security based on an inaccurate interpretation of the statute.” This statement was highlighted in a report by the Washington Post, which first disclosed the details of the directive.
As the Trump administration intensifies its enforcement efforts, this change is expected to impact more long-term residents of the United States. The government’s approach is framed within the context of the recently proposed Big, Beautiful Bill, which allocates $45 billion to expand immigration detention capacity. If approved, this funding would enable the U.S. to detain over 100,000 individuals, significantly increasing the country’s current detention capabilities.
In a statement, Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at DHS, asserted that the bill would enhance efforts to detain those contesting their deportation. She suggested, without providing evidence, that all individuals held without bond have criminal backgrounds. “Politicians and activists can cry wolf all they want,” McLaughlin stated, “but it won’t deter this administration from keeping these criminals and lawbreakers off American streets—and now thanks to the Big Beautiful Bill, we will have plenty of bed space to do so.”
This directive and the accompanying funding proposal reflect a broader shift in U.S. immigration policy under the Trump administration, emphasizing stricter enforcement and increased detention capacity. As the legislation progresses, the implications for detained immigrants and their legal rights will continue to be closely monitored by advocacy groups and legal experts.
