69,129
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. Starting April 2026, new cases have started to slow.
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 in January 2025, the number of detention challenges filed each week rose steadily. By the following year, weekly filings had reached the thousands, peaking in February 2026. While new cases have begun to slow, they have remained far higher than ever.
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.