24,403
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 Over Time
Starting January 2025, the number of detention challenges rose steadily week over week. However, new cases have started to slow.
Note: Includes only weeks with complete data.
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 | 4,597 | ||
 Western District of Texas | 2,387 | ||
 Southern District of Texas | 1,714 | ||
 Northern District of Texas | 347 | ||
 Eastern District of Texas | 149 | ||
| California | 4,522 | ||
 Eastern District of California | 2,061 | ||
 Southern District of California | 1,308 | ||
 Central District of California | 1,067 | ||
 Northern District of California | 86 | ||
| Florida | 1,466 | ||
 Middle District of Florida | 781 | ||
 Southern District of Florida | 685 | ||
 Northern District of Florida | 0 | ||
| Minnesota | 1,142 | ||
| Georgia | 1,084 | ||
 Middle District of Georgia | 677 | ||
 Southern District of Georgia | 388 | ||
 Northern District of Georgia | 19 | ||
| Pennsylvania | 1,014 | ||
 Western District of Pennsylvania | 566 | ||
 Eastern District of Pennsylvania | 300 | ||
 Middle District of Pennsylvania | 148 | ||
| New York | 1,001 | ||
 Western District of New York | 496 | ||
 Southern District of New York | 294 | ||
 Eastern District of New York | 197 | ||
 Northern District of New York | 14 | ||
| Massachusetts | 979 | ||
| Michigan | 973 | ||
 Western District of Michigan | 836 | ||
 Eastern District of Michigan | 137 | ||
| Arizona | 835 | ||
| Virginia | 783 | ||
 Eastern District of Virginia | 780 | ||
 Western District of Virginia | 3 | ||
| New Jersey | 774 | ||
| Louisiana | 750 | ||
 Western District of Louisiana | 700 | ||
 Middle District of Louisiana | 49 | ||
 Eastern District of Louisiana | 1 | ||
| Washington | 601 | ||
 Western District of Washington | 600 | ||
 Eastern District of Washington | 1 | ||
| New Mexico | 541 | ||
| Maryland | 320 | ||
| Indiana | 303 | ||
 Southern District of Indiana | 174 | ||
 Northern District of Indiana | 129 | ||
| Kentucky | 295 | ||
 Western District of Kentucky | 208 | ||
 Eastern District of Kentucky | 87 | ||
| Colorado | 291 | ||
| Nevada | 291 | ||
| Oklahoma | 284 | ||
 Western District of Oklahoma | 274 | ||
 Northern District of Oklahoma | 9 | ||
 Eastern District of Oklahoma | 1 | ||
| Illinois | 256 | ||
 Northern District of Illinois | 256 | ||
 Central District of Illinois | 0 | ||
 Southern District of Illinois | 0 | ||
| New Hampshire | 163 | ||
| Ohio | 159 | ||
 Northern District of Ohio | 83 | ||
 Southern District of Ohio | 76 | ||
| Mississippi | 155 | ||
 Southern District of Mississippi | 155 | ||
 Northern District of Mississippi | 0 | ||
| Tennessee | 105 | ||
 Western District of Tennessee | 98 | ||
 Eastern District of Tennessee | 4 | ||
 Middle District of Tennessee | 3 | ||
| Rhode Island | 96 | ||
| Missouri | 84 | ||
 Western District of Missouri | 63 | ||
 Eastern District of Missouri | 21 | ||
| Nebraska | 66 | ||
| Iowa | 62 | ||
 Northern District of Iowa | 38 | ||
 Southern District of Iowa | 24 | ||
| Maine | 60 | ||
| Oregon | 59 | ||
| Kansas | 54 | ||
| West Virginia | 50 | ||
 Southern District of West Virginia | 49 | ||
 Northern District of West Virginia | 1 | ||
| Wisconsin | 42 | ||
 Eastern District of Wisconsin | 26 | ||
 Western District of Wisconsin | 16 | ||
| Vermont | 34 | ||
| Idaho | 25 | ||
| Wyoming | 14 | ||
| Hawaii | 12 | ||
| Alabama | 11 | ||
 Northern District of Alabama | 7 | ||
 Middle District of Alabama | 3 | ||
 Southern District of Alabama | 1 | ||
| North Dakota | 9 | ||
| Puerto Rico | 8 | ||
| 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 | ||
| Alaska | 5 | ||
| Utah | 4 | ||
| Connecticut | 3 | ||
| South Dakota | 2 | ||
| Arkansas | 1 | ||
 Western District of Arkansas | 1 | ||
 Eastern District of Arkansas | 0 | ||
| South Carolina | 1 | ||
| Delaware | 0 | ||
| Montana | 0 | ||