Detainees Ordered Released; Law Professor's Proposal

WASHINGTON - Nov. 12, 2025 - PRLog -- U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Cummings has just ordered ICE to release potentially thousands of detainees, pending the outcome of immigration proceedings, as long as a detainee had no criminal history or prior removal order.

To help insure that they will not go into hiding, the judge reportedly plans to use so-called "alternatives to detention," including ankle monitors.

This is exactly what was proposed in two amicus briefs by public interest law professor John Banzhaf years ago to help prevent the forceful separation of families seized by immigration enforcement authorities.

More specifically, he suggested the use of ankle monitors to stop the separation of families under prior administrations by filing a brief amicus curiae before two different judges in two different cases; both subsequently ruled as he had suggested to keep families together.

Drawing on his technical background, he also explained to the judges that there are several better, more effective, and less expensive means than detaining or separating families that immigration authorizes can and should utilize to keep track of people as an alternative to incarceration or deportation.
Law Professor Suggests Placing Ankle Trackers on Refugees (https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/law-professor-sugges...)

As the Washington Post subsequently reported, ICE Moves to Shackle Some 180,000 Immigrants With GPS Ankle Monitors. (https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/2025/07/24/ice...)

See also: Ankle Monitors - ICE Finally Follows Professor's Proposal; Use Recommended in His Amicus Briefs May Have Stopped Family Breakups (https://www.prlog.org/13089541-ankle-monitors-ice-finally-follows-professors-proposal.html)

As Banzhaf explained in his amicus briefs, technology provides several very effective as well as cost efficient methods of keeping track of detainees which have been proven over time.

Using them to permit some detainees to go free pending further legal proceedings is not only fairer for the immigrants and their families; it can also save millions in taxpayer dollars, says Banzhaf

http://banzhaf.net/   jbanzhaf3ATgmail.com   @profbanzhaf