NEWARK, N.J. (Diya TV) — A federal judge in New Jersey says U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement violated court orders in the case of an Indian immigrant with a pending asylum application. The ruling adds to growing scrutiny of ICE detention and transfer practices under the Trump administration.
U.S. District Judge Christine P. O’Hearn accused federal officials of ignoring a no-transfer order after agents arrested Jagpreet Singh earlier this month. The case has raised concerns about immigration enforcement, judicial oversight, and the treatment of asylum seekers.
According to Law & Crime, ICE officers arrested Jagpreet Singh on Feb. 14 while he drove home from work in New Jersey. Singh has a pending asylum application in immigration court. Authorities detained him at the Delaney Hall Detention Facility in Newark. Judge O’Hearn said officials held Singh without access to legal counsel or the ability to make a phone call.
“Following his arrest, Petitioner was detained at Delaney Hall Detention Facility in Newark, New Jersey, without access to counsel or the ability to make a phone call,” O’Hearn wrote in a court order. Singh’s attorneys quickly filed a petition on Feb. 17. They asked the court to block ICE from transferring him out of New Jersey. The court granted that request and issued a no-transfer order the same day.
A Department of Justice filing suggested that ICE transferred Singh to a detention facility in New York one day after the judge issued the order. If true, the transfer would violate the federal court’s directive. Judge O’Hearn criticized ICE in her written order. She said the agency has ignored similar judicial orders more than 50 times in the past 60 days. Her comments signal growing frustration within the federal judiciary over immigration enforcement practices. Federal judges have the authority to issue binding orders. Agencies must follow them.
The Justice Department later told the court that Singh may not have moved after all. In a subsequent letter, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said ICE informed them that Singh had remained at Delaney Hall since the Feb. 17 order. The latest court filing states that ICE determined Singh “remained at Delaney Hall Detention Facility since the Court’s February 17 order and was never transferred in violation of the Court’s injunction.” The court has not yet resolved the conflicting claims.
Singh’s case highlights broader concerns about ICE detention policies and interstate transfers. Civil rights advocates say out-of-state transfers can disrupt legal representation and delay immigration proceedings.
The Los Angeles Times recently reported on ICE’s use of out-of-state transfers. The report described how detainees often move far from family members and attorneys. Lawyers say such moves make it harder for immigrants to prepare asylum cases.
Immigration attorneys argue that sudden transfers can weaken due process protections. They say detainees may struggle to contact lawyers or gather evidence after relocation. ICE has defended transfers in other cases. Officials often cite bed space limits and operational needs. The agency has not publicly commented in detail on Singh’s case.
The dispute comes amid a rise in ICE arrests of Indian nationals. Under the Trump administration, federal immigration enforcement has increased in several regions. India Abroad reported that ICE arrested 1,993 Indian nationals in 2025. That number more than doubles the 820 arrests recorded in 2024.
