These Judges Take Months to Decide If Immigrants Have Been Unlawfully Detained

These Judges Take Months to Decide If Immigrants Have Been Unlawfully Detained by Carla Astudillo September 3, 2026, 5:00 am https://www.propublica.org/article/ice-detention-judges-habeas-petitions?utm_source=sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=majorinvestigations&utm_content=river Reporting Highlights Delayed Decisions: Amid a national surge in habeas petitions, federal courts in Mississippi and Louisiana have typically taken three months or more to rule on detainees’ freedom. How Others Adjusted: Federal courts with more cases, such as in California and Florida, have closed cases at a faster rate, usually within weeks, according to a ProPublica analysis. Waiting in Detention: Advocates say the delays leave people waiting in prisonlike detention facilities. Some are asking to be deported rather than wait.