In a landmark decision, U.S. District Judge Tiffany Cartwright has ruled that certain migrants detained at the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, Washington, can request to be released on bond. This ruling contradicts a Trump-era policy that denied bond hearings to many migrants, declaring it unlawful.
The ruling impacts a class of immigrants who, according to the judge, are not subject to mandatory detention. Holding these individuals without the possibility of a bond hearing, the judge stated, violates the Immigration and Nationality Act.
Previously, immigration judges at the Tacoma facility had infamously denied bond requests, with an astonishing bond approval rate of just 3% based on recent national data. In July, a new ICE directive established nationwide policies that significantly limited the ability of detained immigrants to gain release, unless under very limited circumstances.
Among those affected are long-term residents like Roman Rodriguez Vazquez, who has lived in Washington for 16 years. Immigration lawyers argue that such policies disproportionately impact individuals with strong community ties and clean records.
The ACLU has also pushed back against similar policies, claiming that the exclusion of bond hearings undermines immigrants’ rights to due process. Attorney Daniel McFadden emphasized the constitutional requirement for the government to justify detentions.
This ruling is significant, as it sets a precedent that could expand upon existing protections for migrants, and a similar lawsuit in California is seeking to challenge these denials on a national basis. While the Tacoma decision currently affects only local detainees, advocates hope it prompts systemic changes across the country.
