{"id":2571539,"date":"2026-02-19T16:44:02","date_gmt":"2026-02-19T21:44:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/8th-circuit-may-give-trump-another-win-on-mandatory-immigration-detention\/"},"modified":"2026-02-19T16:46:59","modified_gmt":"2026-02-19T21:46:59","slug":"8th-circuit-may-give-trump-another-win-on-mandatory-immigration-detention","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/8th-circuit-may-give-trump-another-win-on-mandatory-immigration-detention\/","title":{"rendered":"8th Circuit may give Trump another win on mandatory immigration detention"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2F8th-circuit-may-give-trump-another-win-on-mandatory-immigration-detention%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2571539&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article reports on arguments before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit regarding the Trump administration\u2019s policy of mandatory detention for illegal immigrants. A three-judge panel, mostly appointed by Republicans, appeared sympathetic to the government\u2019s position and skeptical of the detainee\u2019s lawyer\u2019s claim that federal law requires bond hearings for those detained inside the country. The case follows a separate Fifth Circuit ruling earlier in the month that upheld the detention policy,marking the first appellate endorsement after many district-court losses for opponents of the policy. The 8th Circuit\u2019s decision will influence how <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-announces-new-legal-team-for-impeachment-defense-after-previous-team-collapsed\/\" title=\"... Announces New Legal Team For Impeachment Defense After Previous Team Collapsed\">federal district courts<\/a> in seven states apply the policy and could affect hundreds of detention challenges; a ruling favorable to the government could quickly accelerate implementation, while a ruling against it might create a circuit split and push the issue toward the Supreme Court. The panel did not indicate when a ruling would be issued.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">8th Circuit may give Trump another win on mandatory immigration detention<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2500904\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Another federal <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/appeals-courts\/\">appeals court<\/a> could hand President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a> a victory in his legal war over mandatory detention for <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/illegal-immigrants\/\">illegal immigration<\/a>, as a panel on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit appeared friendly to the administration&rsquo;s stance during arguments on Thursday.<\/p>\n<p>The Trump administration won a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4453999\/lower-courts-undermine-trump-appeals-win-immigrant-detention\/\">key legal victory<\/a> in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit earlier this month, when the appeals court upheld the Trump administration&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/lower-courts-undermine-trumps-appeals-court-win-on-immigration-detention\/\" title=\"Lower ...s undermine ...&#039;s ... on ...\">illegal immigrant mandatory detention policy<\/a>, rejecting claims by opponents of the administration that bond hearings are required for illegal immigrants. The ruling was the first time an appeals court had upheld the policy, after the administration faced hundreds of losses in federal district courts, as the problem inches closer to the Supreme Court.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/investigations\/4461671\/ice-battle-local-democrats-convert-warehouses-detention-centers\/\">Inside ICE&#8217;s battle with local Democrats to convert warehouses into detention centers<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/4459326\/small-security-force-stay-minnesota-despite-ice-surge-ending-tom-homan\/\">Small &#8216;security force&#8217; to stay in Minnesota despite ICE surge ending: Homan<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/4457777\/republicans-against-ice-detention-centers-economic-concerns\/\">Republicans rise up against new ICE detention centers, appealing to DHS on infrastructural and economic concerns&nbsp;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>On Thursday, a three-judge panel on the 8th Circuit, which comprises mostly Republican-appointed judges, appeared skeptical of the arguments from Michael Tan, a lawyer representing an illegal immigrant detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cruz-at-bidens-border-crisis-most-horrific-thing-ive-ever-seen-infants-little-kids-struggling\/\" title=\"Cruz At Biden\u2019s Border Crisis: \u2018Most Horrific Thing I\u2019ve Ever Seen,\u2019 Infants, Little Kids Struggling\">federal immigration law requires<\/a> a bond hearing for illegal immigrants detained in the interior of the country. Tan and DOJ lawyer Drew Ensign offered differing opinions on what the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act, a 1996 law outlining immigration detention procedures, states about Trump&rsquo;s mandatory detention policy.<\/p>\n<p>Ensign argued the 1996 law removed the right to a bond hearing for people detained in the interior of the country, placing illegal immigrants detained at a port of entry and those detained in the interior under the same standard of mandatory detention.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Congress specifically sought to eliminate this preferential treatment for illegal actions in IIRIRA, and I think that&rsquo;s a policy choice that should be respected here,&rdquo; Ensign argued.<\/p>\n<p>Tan argued that while the IIRIRA enacted mandatory detention for illegal immigrants who committed crimes, it did not expand that mandatory detention to illegal immigrants detained in the interior of the country. He cast doubt on the DOJ&rsquo;s view by arguing the Trump administration is attempting to claim an authority that &ldquo;somehow escaped everyone&rsquo;s notice for the last 30 years.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;What the executive is doing is abandoning the choice Congress made in order to advance its own policy goals, and it&rsquo;s doing that despite more than 370 federal judges rejecting government overreach,&rdquo; Tan told the appeals court panel.<\/p>\n<p>Tan&rsquo;s position was met with significant skepticism by the panel, with one of the judges questioning if his position would be asking the court to affirm how immigration detention law functioned prior to IIRIRA.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Doesn&rsquo;t your position return us to the pre-IIRIRA framework, where those who enter the country without permission gain a procedural advantage over those who seek to enter lawfully?&rdquo; one judge asked Tan.<\/p>\n<p>Another judge said he had &ldquo;a little trouble understanding&rdquo; Tan&rsquo;s argument regarding who would not be subject to mandatory detention, when it appears the law would broadly include illegal immigrants detained throughout the country.<\/p>\n<p>The panel of judges who heard the case Thursday included two appointed by Trump, judges Ralph Erickson and L. Steven Grasz, and one appointed by former President George W. Bush, Judge Bobby Shepherd. The judges did not indicate when they will issue a ruling, but Ensign told the panel if they are &ldquo;able to issue an opinion quickly, that would be extraordinarily well received by the government.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The ruling by the 8th Circuit panel will have a significant impact on the fate of hundreds of mandatory detention challenges in Minnesota, where the administration has faced an avalanche of lawsuits over illegal immigrant detention during <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >increased federal immigration enforcement operations<\/a> in recent months. The 8th Circuit&rsquo;s ruling, either in favor or against the administration&rsquo;s mandatory detention policy, will be the position that federal district courts in Arkansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota will have to follow on the matter.<\/p>\n<p>If the 8th Circuit rules against the administration on mandatory detention, counter to the 5th Circuit&rsquo;s ruling, it would create a circuit split between the appeals courts and make the issue more likely to be taken up by the Supreme Court.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4453999\/lower-courts-undermine-trump-appeals-win-immigrant-detention\/\">LOWER COURTS UNDERMINE TRUMP&rsquo;S APPEALS COURT WIN ON IMMIGRATION DETENTION<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Even if the 8th Circuit does not create a split on the issue, the matter is making its way through other appeals courts, and a split between the circuits appears inevitable.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This is one of those things the Supreme Court needs to resolve sooner rather than later, because this is sapping the vital energy out of the district courts and out of DOJ because there are just so many of these cases,&rdquo; &nbsp;Andrew Arthur, the Center for Immigration&rsquo;s resident fellow in law and policy, previously <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4453999\/lower-courts-undermine-trump-appeals-win-immigrant-detention\/\">told<\/a> the&nbsp;<em>Washington Examiner<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Paraphrase:<br \/>\nAn 8th Circuit panel signaled sympathy toward the Trump administration\u2019s push for mandatory detention of illegal entrants, as it debated whether federal law requires bond hearings for detainees held inside the U.S. DOJ contends that the 1996 IIRIRA eliminates interior bond hearings and treats inland detainees the same as those at ports of entry; the detainee\u2019s lawyer countered that IIRIRA does not extend mandatory detention to interior detainees and accused the administration of overreaching. The judges\u2014two appointed by Trump and one by George W. Bush\u2014asked tough questions and showed skepticism about the detainee\u2019s arguments. The ruling could guide dozens of cases across several states and might create a circuit split if the 8th Circuit disagrees with the 5th Circuit, potentially sending the issue to the Supreme Court. Even without a split, the policy\u2019s fate continues to unfold through multiple appellate courts as district courts have largely rejected it.<\/p>\n<p>55-character headline:<br \/>\n8th Circuit could back Trump on immigrant detention<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2638,"featured_media":2571540,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP26015800861883.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[74138,33740,57627,36382,3634],"class_list":["post-2571539","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-8th-circuit","tag-court-ruling","tag-immigration-detention","tag-immigration-policy","tag-trump"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP26015800861883.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2571539","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2638"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2571539"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2571539\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2571543,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2571539\/revisions\/2571543"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2571540"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2571539"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2571539"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2571539"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}