A federal appeals court has upheld the Trump administration's policy of detaining undocumented immigrants without bond, marking the second appellate victory for the controversial practice. The Eighth Circuit ruled that immigrants living in the U.S. for years can be considered 'seeking admission' and therefore subject to no-bond detention under immigration law.

Judge Bobby Shepherd wrote that 'being admitted' requires lawful entry, not merely presence in the country. The ruling affects Joaquin Herrera Avila, a Mexican citizen arrested in Minnesota after 20 years in the U.S., who had only one DUI conviction. Attorney General Pam Bondi celebrated the decision as a 'massive court victory' against 'Democrats and activist judges.'

Federal judges nationwide are now split on the policy's legality, with some ordering detainee releases when the government fails to comply promptly. The Supreme Court may ultimately decide whether the administration can apply border detention rules to immigrants already living in the U.S. The policy has filled detention centers and flooded courts with petitions, potentially affecting millions who crossed years ago.