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Surge in Immigration Habeas Corpus Petitions Overwhelms El Paso Courts

El Paso Matters•Sunday, February 1, 2026 at 2:45 PM•Robert Moore

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The federal courts in El Paso and West Texas are experiencing an unprecedented influx of habeas corpus petitions from immigration detainees, with over 1,300 cases filed since early 2025. This surge follows the Trump administration's aggressive deportation policies, which have led to many individuals being detained unlawfully. Notably, a recent case involved an 18-year-old named Heidy, who was detained despite having legal status. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas has struggled to keep up with the volume of cases, leading to missed deadlines. As of January 2026, filings are projected to exceed 2,800 for the year, highlighting the urgent need for reform in immigration detention policies.

Key Details: • Heidy was detained on January 14, 2026, and released on January 22, 2026. • Habeas corpus filings in El Paso increased from an average of 26 per year (2021-2024) to nearly 300 in 2025. • If the current pace continues, El Paso could see over 2,800 habeas corpus filings in 2026. • The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals will hear arguments on the no-bond policy on an upcoming Tuesday.

immigration court detention trump-administration habeas-corpus

People & Organizations

El PasoImmigration and Customs EnforcementFort BlissU.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of TexasMinneapolisHeidyKathleen CardoneSimon Sandoval-MoshenbergAlia Moses

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