18,235
Habeas cases since January 2025
Tracking Habeas Cases
ProPublica is tracking the historic rise in challenges filed by immigrants claiming their detention is illegal.
As federal immigration agents surge into communities and detain people, the number of cases filed by those claiming their detention is illegal has risen to historic highs. ProPublica is tracking the volume of these cases, known as habeas petitions, as they overwhelm legal advocates and government attorneys.
Immigrants filed more habeas cases in the first 13 months of the second Trump administration than in the past three administrations combined, including his first.
Do you work or have you worked at an immigration detention facility? Get in touch with ProPublica reporters on Signal at 917-512-0201 to share your experience.
Immigration-related habeas cases filed by month, through the last complete month.
Cases Keep Growing
Since January 2025, the number of detention challenges has risen steadily week over week.
Note: Weeks with incomplete data shown in light blue.
Challenges Are Not Evenly Distributed
California and Texas lead the way in detention challenges. But in recent months, cases have surged in Minnesota, where the administration has been waging a monthslong immigration crackdown.
| State | Cases since January 2025 | Trend line | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 3,324 | ||
 Western District of Texas | 1,678 | ||
 Southern District of Texas | 1,265 | ||
 Northern District of Texas | 263 | ||
 Eastern District of Texas | 118 | ||
| California | 3,241 | ||
 Eastern District of California | 1,405 | ||
 Southern District of California | 980 | ||
 Central District of California | 773 | ||
 Northern District of California | 83 | ||
| Minnesota | 918 | ||
| Florida | 912 | ||
 Southern District of Florida | 464 | ||
 Middle District of Florida | 448 | ||
 Northern District of Florida | 0 | ||
| Georgia | 875 | ||
 Middle District of Georgia | 574 | ||
 Southern District of Georgia | 286 | ||
 Northern District of Georgia | 15 | ||
| Massachusetts | 873 | ||
| Pennsylvania | 795 | ||
 Western District of Pennsylvania | 417 | ||
 Eastern District of Pennsylvania | 261 | ||
 Middle District of Pennsylvania | 117 | ||
| New York | 784 | ||
 Western District of New York | 399 | ||
 Southern District of New York | 254 | ||
 Eastern District of New York | 123 | ||
 Northern District of New York | 8 | ||
| Michigan | 776 | ||
 Western District of Michigan | 664 | ||
 Eastern District of Michigan | 112 | ||
| Virginia | 655 | ||
 Eastern District of Virginia | 652 | ||
 Western District of Virginia | 3 | ||
| Louisiana | 603 | ||
 Western District of Louisiana | 563 | ||
 Middle District of Louisiana | 39 | ||
 Eastern District of Louisiana | 1 | ||
| New Jersey | 598 | ||
| Arizona | 589 | ||
| Washington | 486 | ||
 Western District of Washington | 485 | ||
 Eastern District of Washington | 1 | ||
| New Mexico | 318 | ||
| Illinois | 242 | ||
 Northern District of Illinois | 242 | ||
 Central District of Illinois | 0 | ||
 Southern District of Illinois | 0 | ||
| Maryland | 224 | ||
| Kentucky | 216 | ||
 Western District of Kentucky | 161 | ||
 Eastern District of Kentucky | 55 | ||
| Indiana | 212 | ||
 Southern District of Indiana | 135 | ||
 Northern District of Indiana | 77 | ||
| Nevada | 202 | ||
| Oklahoma | 199 | ||
 Western District of Oklahoma | 192 | ||
 Northern District of Oklahoma | 6 | ||
 Eastern District of Oklahoma | 1 | ||
| Colorado | 198 | ||
| New Hampshire | 129 | ||
| Ohio | 129 | ||
 Northern District of Ohio | 67 | ||
 Southern District of Ohio | 62 | ||
| Mississippi | 102 | ||
 Southern District of Mississippi | 102 | ||
 Northern District of Mississippi | 0 | ||
| Rhode Island | 78 | ||
| Tennessee | 74 | ||
 Western District of Tennessee | 68 | ||
 Eastern District of Tennessee | 4 | ||
 Middle District of Tennessee | 2 | ||
| Missouri | 58 | ||
 Western District of Missouri | 43 | ||
 Eastern District of Missouri | 15 | ||
| Oregon | 55 | ||
| Iowa | 52 | ||
 Northern District of Iowa | 32 | ||
 Southern District of Iowa | 20 | ||
| Maine | 51 | ||
| Kansas | 47 | ||
| Nebraska | 46 | ||
| Vermont | 34 | ||
| Wisconsin | 32 | ||
 Eastern District of Wisconsin | 23 | ||
 Western District of Wisconsin | 9 | ||
| Idaho | 25 | ||
| West Virginia | 17 | ||
 Southern District of West Virginia | 16 | ||
 Northern District of West Virginia | 1 | ||
| Wyoming | 12 | ||
| Hawaii | 9 | ||
| Washington, D.C. | 7 | ||
| North Carolina | 7 | ||
 Middle District of North Carolina | 4 | ||
 Western District of North Carolina | 3 | ||
 Eastern District of North Carolina | 0 | ||
| North Dakota | 6 | ||
| Puerto Rico | 6 | ||
| Alabama | 5 | ||
 Middle District of Alabama | 2 | ||
 Northern District of Alabama | 2 | ||
 Southern District of Alabama | 1 | ||
| Alaska | 4 | ||
| Connecticut | 3 | ||
| Utah | 3 | ||
| South Carolina | 1 | ||
| Arkansas | 0 | ||
 Eastern District of Arkansas | 0 | ||
 Western District of Arkansas | 0 | ||
| Delaware | 0 | ||
| Montana | 0 | ||
| South Dakota | 0 | ||