Applaud the Judge Who Rejected Trump’s Overreach

A federal judge just delivered a powerful rebuke to unlawful mass detention — and it deserves our applause.

U.S. District Judge Sunshine Sykes vacated an immigration court ruling that had given the Trump administration sweeping authority to detain migrants without bond hearings. Her decision restores a fundamental safeguard: the right to a hearing before an immigration judge to determine whether someone can pursue their case outside of detention.

For months, the administration claimed it was targeting the “worst of the worst.” Judge Sykes made clear that this rhetoric did not match reality. Many of those swept up were non-criminal immigrants, including longtime residents detained without valid warrants. Instead of following established legal precedent, officials denied bond hearings and forced detainees to file habeas petitions just to assert their rights.

Judge Sykes called out these “reckless violations of the law” and reaffirmed a basic principle of due process: the government cannot detain people indefinitely without proper legal justification and individualized review.

This ruling isn’t about politics — it’s about the Constitution. It’s about ensuring that executive power has limits and that immigration enforcement still follows the law.

Add your name to applaud Judge Sunshine Sykes for defending due process, rejecting unlawful mass detention, and standing up for the rule of law.