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Sixth Circuit Orders ICE Bond Hearings, Potentially Freeing Thousands

5/14/2026

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Summary

Story summary

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit ruled Monday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) must hold bond hearings for detainees in the circuit.
The decision, order in Sixth Circuit, is expected to free thousands in Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee, according to American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Michigan.
Legal experts say the split among circuit courts on mandatory detention will lead Supreme Court to review policy.

History

Historical Context

Congress passed the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act in 1996, after the 1993 World Trade Center and 1995 Oklahoma City bombings and signed by President Bill Clinton. The act broadened mandatory detention, raising deportations from about 50,000 to over 200,000 by early 2000s. The Sixth Circuit’s ICE bond-hearing order revisits the statutory conflict addressed in 2022 Supreme Court case Johnson v. Arteaga-Martinez.

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Story summary

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit ruled Monday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) must hold bond hearings for detainees in the circuit.
The decision, order in Sixth Circuit, is expected to free thousands in Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee, according to American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Michigan.
Legal experts say the split among circuit courts on mandatory detention will lead Supreme Court to review policy.

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