The Trump administration is tightening the screws on illegal immigration with a bold new policy. An internal ICE memo reveals a plan to detain unauthorized migrants by denying them bond hearings, a move that could keep thousands locked up while they fight deportation.
The New York Post reported that the policy, outlined in a July 8, 2025, ICE memo, aims to keep millions of border-crossers in custody as they contest deportation. It’s a direct response to what Trump calls unprecedented illegal immigration under his predecessor, Joe Biden.
The approach signals a no-nonsense stance, prioritizing enforcement over leniency. Congress has backed this hardline pivot with serious cash.
A July 2025 spending law allocated funds to detain at least 100,000 people, nearly doubling the 58,000 already in custody by late June. This financial muscle suggests Washington is gearing up for a deportation surge.
The Bluebonnet Detention Facility in Anson, Texas, is one site bracing for impact. A bus was spotted there on April 20, 2025, holding Venezuelan migrants tied to a Supreme Court deportation ruling. These facilities are about to get a lot busier if the ICE memo’s vision becomes reality.
ICE acting director Todd Lyons penned the memo, which The Washington Post broke to the public. It lays out a clear directive: limit bond hearing eligibility for those who crossed illegally. This isn’t just paperwork—it’s a seismic shift in how America handles unauthorized migrants.
Tom Jawetz, a former Biden homeland security official, called this a “radical departure” from decades of legal norms.
He warns it could “explode the detention population,” painting a picture of overflowing facilities. But let’s be real: if borders aren’t enforced, what’s the point of having them?
Jawetz’s alarmist take misses the bigger picture. The policy isn’t about cruelty; it’s about restoring order to a system strained by years of lax enforcement. Still, his point about detention capacity raises legitimate logistical concerns.
Scenes at Gary/Chicago International Airport on June 20, 2025, showed handcuffs being removed from migrants boarding planes after ICE facility transfers.
These images underscore the human element of enforcement. While the policy is tough, it’s not heartless—deportation still follows due process.
The Department of Homeland Security and ICE have stayed mum on the memo so far. Their silence, noted after requests for comment went unanswered, leaves room for speculation. Are they finalizing details or just dodging the spotlight?
Congress’s decision to fund 100,000 detention slots shows bipartisan resolve to tackle illegal immigration. The previous high of 58,000 detainees in June 2025 already stretched resources thin. This cash infusion signals that lawmakers are ready to back Trump’s vision.
Yet, the policy isn’t without risks. Denying bond hearings could clog the system, leaving migrants in limbo and facilities bursting at the seams. Critics like Jawetz might exaggerate, but the strain on infrastructure is a real hurdle.
Trump’s vow of mass deportations is the backbone of this policy. He’s framing it as a correction to Biden’s border failures, which he claims let millions slip through. Whether you buy that narrative, the numbers don’t lie—detention is ramping up fast.
A Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection sign in Washington, DC, on May 18, 2025, symbolized the agencies’ roles in this crackdown. These institutions are now tasked with executing a policy that’s as divisive as it is ambitious. The public’s watching closely.
The memo’s focus on denying bond hearings isn’t just about detention—it’s about deterrence. By making illegal entry costlier, the administration hopes to stem the tide of future crossings. It’s a gamble, but one rooted in a clear conservative principle: borders matter.
