(U.S.) Arrests at immigration courts slowed sharply in early August 2025, after a federal judge on August 1 blocked the government from placing people who entered the United States with parole into expedited removal. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has pulled back on courthouse detentions in many cities, even as officers continue arrests in some locations and in specific situations, according to attorneys and advocacy groups tracking daily activity.
The shift has eased fear for some families heading to hearings, but the picture is uneven and may change again as legal battles continue.
Recent enforcement trends and context
ICE had ramped up arrests at immigration courts from May through July, focusing on people who have been in the country less than two years without parole and some who arrived with parole through CBP One or other programs. Many were taken from hallways and waiting rooms and placed into expedited removal, a fast-track process that bypasses the normal immigration court timeline.
The August 1 injunction halted that tactic for parolees, and ICE says it is now complying with the order while it reassesses broader enforcement plans. Well before the ruling, pressure was building: reports of large-scale ICE arrests at immigration courts and at certain USCIS interviews drew protests from immigrant communities and faith groups.
In July, 86 House members led by Rep. Dan Goldman urged the Department of Homeland Security to end courthouse arrests, citing due process concerns and the lack of criminal records among many of those detained.
By early August, legal service providers reported ICE activity had “slowed dramatically” in several jurisdictions, though arrests continue for people who lose their final hearings and for recent arrivals without parole.
Policy shifts after the August 1 ruling
The court order on August 1 blocked the government from placing parolees into expedited removal, forcing a return to standard removal proceedings for that group. ICE has acknowledged the change and continues enforcement against other categories—especially people who recently entered without parole and those with final order denials at the end of their asylum cases.
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the ruling pushed ICE to recalibrate its approach, at least for now, and added to a wave of judicial pushback against efforts seen as short-circuiting due process.
The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), which runs the nation’s immigration courts, issued guidance in late May that affected how judges manage case dismissals and adjudications. While details vary by courthouse, the combination of EOIR guidance and the August 1 injunction has altered day-to-day decisions about custody and scheduling.
Lawyers say:
– The changes are most visible for parolees, who are no longer being routed into expedited removal.
– Impacts remain for recent entrants and people who receive denials at their final hearings.
Scope and numbers
Numbers help show the scale of the system and why small changes matter.
- More than 3.7 million cases were pending in the immigration courts as of mid-2025.
- That includes over 2 million asylum claims.
- Judges issued more than 10,000 asylum rulings per month in early 2025.
- Denial rates were over 75% during that period.
With dockets this large, even modest swings in courthouse arrests can affect attendance: when fear spikes, some people skip hearings and receive in absentia orders; when it eases, attendance can stabilize.
Official court status and procedural updates are posted by EOIR at https://www.justice.gov/eoir.
Current enforcement reality
The slowdown does not mean arrests are over. ICE officers are still detaining some people at courthouses—especially after final orders—and also at jails and during targeted operations.
The agency says it is following the law as clarified by the court and continues to focus on:
– recent arrivals without parole, and
– those with removal orders.
Legal aid groups, including ASAP and AILA, report fewer arrests of parolees at court since the ruling but urge caution because practices differ by city and can change quickly.
“Any arrest threat inside a courthouse harms trust in the legal process and can push people to miss hearings,” advocacy groups say.
Government officials counter that enforcement targets those with final orders and recent border entries, and say ICE is complying with the court’s limits on expedited removal.
Human impact and regional variation
The most immediate effect has been on families who arrived with parole and now face lower risk of being pulled into expedited removal at court. Parents describe being able to bring children to hearings without the same panic they felt in June and July.
At the same time:
– People with recent entries and those awaiting final decisions still face arrest risk.
– Many continue to prepare safety plans before each hearing.
– Practices vary by courthouse: one location may have paused arrests while another continues them.
Attorneys are adjusting strategies:
– For clients with parole, lawyers now expect standard charging papers and regular court calendars rather than sudden transfers to detention.
– For recent arrivals without parole, attorneys warn that ICE can still detain at or after hearings.
– Common lawyer recommendations include arriving early, carrying copies of key documents, and keeping emergency contact numbers handy.
No national arrest tally is available for August, but networks of legal providers describe a clear drop in ICE activity at immigration courts since the injunction, especially for parolees and long-term residents.
Practical guidance: What to do if you have a hearing
For people with upcoming hearings, several steps can help:
- Confirm your hearing date and time using official channels, and arrive early.
- If you entered with parole, know that expedited removal is currently blocked for parolees by the August 1 order, but arrest risk may still exist for other reasons.
- If you are detained, seek immediate legal help. Groups like ASAP and AILA share referrals, and public defender networks in some cities offer support.
- Check local court updates. Practices differ by location and can shift quickly. EOIR posts official information at https://www.justice.gov/eoir.
- Keep a plan for family care and important documents in case of unexpected detention.
What’s next
The policy fight is far from over. Further lawsuits could change the rules again soon.
Stay informed through official sources and local legal service providers, and revisit court guidance regularly as the situation evolves.
This Article in a Nutshell
A federal injunction on August 1 paused routing parolees into expedited removal, easing courthouse fear. ICE reduced courthouse arrests across jurisdictions, but detentions continue for recent arrivals and final-order cases. Legal guidance and EOIR policies shape local practices. Families and lawyers adapt strategies while the policy fight and court challenges continue to evolve.
