Courts Uphold Trump Administration Immigration Fast-Track and Detention Policies

The Trump administration secured two legal victories on April 10, 2026, that expand the federal government's authority to accelerate the removal of non-citizens and maintain their detention. In the District of Columbia, U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols rejected a challenge from immigration advocates and the Hines Immigration Law firm, ruling that the administration can fast-track asylum cases. The court determined that immigration judges should generally complete the adjudication of asylum applications within 180 days and found that the plaintiffs likely lacked standing to bring the suit.

In a separate case, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit unanimously refused to grant an en banc rehearing in Buenrostro-Mendez v. Bondi. This decision upholds a previous ruling allowing the government to detain illegal aliens without bond hearings during deportation proceedings. Together with a similar ruling from the Eighth Circuit, these decisions reinforce the administration's ability to speed up the deportation process for those who entered the United States without inspection.