President Donald Trump scored a major legal win on immigration at the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday night. A federal judge agreed with the Trump administration that illegal aliens can be detained without bond while their immigration cases are being processed. “Tonight our [Justice Department] attorneys secured yet another crucial legal victory in support of [President] Trump’s immigration agenda,” U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi posted to X Friday night. “The Fifth Circuit just held illegal aliens can rightfully be detained without bond – a significant blow against activist judges who have been undermining our efforts to make America safe again at every turn,” Bondi said. “We will continue vindicating President Trump’s law and order agenda in courtrooms across the country,” the AG added. Tonight our @TheJusticeDept attorneys secured yet another crucial legal victory in support of @POTUS Trump’s immigration agenda. The Fifth Circuit just held illegal aliens can rightfully be detained without bond – a significant blow against activist judges who have been… — Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) February 7, 2026 Eric Wessan, Iowa’s Solicitor General, called the win “enormous” for the Trump administration, noting that the Fifth Circuit was the first federal court to address Trump’s expedited removal efforts. “ENORMOUS Immigration win for President Trump,” he posted to X. “The Fifth Circuit, the first federal court to address President Trump’s expedited removal efforts, sides with the administration.” “Illegal aliens may be detained and removed!” he emphasized. Ilya Shapiro, a senior fellow and director of constitutional studies at the Manhattan Institute, said the same in an X post. “Another big deal and seems obviously right – you can detain and hold illegal aliens rather than automatically releasing them on (insignificant) bond,” he said.