By Trendsetter Tribune 
RIVERSIDE, CA — In one of the most blistering judicial rebukes of the current administration’s second term, U.S. District Judge Sunshine Sykes accused the White House of “terrorizing” immigrants and “recklessly violating the law” in its aggressive mass deportation campaign. The ruling, issued late Wednesday, February 18, 2026, represents a significant legal escalation as the federal judiciary increasingly clashes with the executive branch over Operation Metro Surge.
Judge Sykes, a Biden appointee, argued that the administration’s actions have moved beyond legal enforcement into a campaign of “wanton acts” that threaten the very fabric of the nation.
The Scathing Decision: “Terror” and “Violence”
The ruling was triggered by the administration’s refusal to comply with Sykes’s previous orders from November and December 2025, which found the government was illegally denying bond hearings to detained immigrants.
- “Terror” against Non-Citizens: Sykes wrote that the administration’s mandatory detention policy—which denies release even to those with no criminal records—deprives thousands of their “liberty, economic stability, and fundamental dignity.”
- Violence against Citizens: In a rare move, the judge cited the recent deaths of two U.S. citizens, Renée Good and Alex Pretti, who were killed by federal agents in Minneapolis during January protests. She stated the White House has “extended its violence on its own citizens.”+1
- The “Worst of the Worst” Myth: Sykes slammed the administration’s rhetoric that its crackdown targets only “bad hombres,” noting that the majority of those swept up in recent raids do not fit the description of violent criminals.
The Mandate: Restoring Due Process
To curb what she described as “executive lawlessness,” Judge Sykes issued a series of immediate mandates for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS):
| Court Requirement | Implementation Deadline |
| Notice of Eligibility | DHS must inform all detainees nationwide of their right to seek bond. |
| Legal Access | Detainees must be given access to a phone to call an attorney within one hour of a request. |
| Bond Hearings | The court vacated a September ruling used by the administration to justify mandatory detention, effectively reopening the path for bond. |
A Judiciary in Revolt
Judge Sykes is not the only member of the federal bench losing patience with the administration’s immigration tactics. This week has seen a “tsunami” of judicial pushback:
- Minnesota (Feb 18): A judge held a DOJ attorney in contempt of court for failing to return identification documents to an immigrant ordered for release.
- New Jersey (Feb 17): Judge Michael Farbiarz ordered the administration to explain why it missed court-ordered deadlines for bond hearings in 12 separate cases since December.
- National Habeas Crisis: Over 20,000 habeas corpus petitions have been filed by immigrants since the January 2025 inauguration, overwhelming federal dockets.
The White House Counter-Strike
The administration has remained defiant, referring most inquiries to the DHS. In a statement released Thursday, the department noted that the Supreme Court has historically overruled lower courts on the issue of mandatory detention.
“ICE has the law and the facts on its side, and it adheres to all court decisions until it ultimately gets them shot down by the highest court in the land.” — DHS Statement, Feb 19, 2026
Legal analysts suggest the administration is intentionally slow-walking lower court orders while it waits for a definitive ruling from the 6-3 conservative majority on the Supreme Court, which could potentially grant the President nearly unfettered authority over immigration detention.