A federal judge on Wednesday limited the ability of federal immigration officials to make warrantless in Washington, D.C., amid the Trump administration's ongoing crackdown.

“Put simply, immigration enforcement officers may conduct a warrantless civil immigration arrest only if they have probable cause to believe that a person is both in the United States unlawfully and an escape risk,” wrote U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell, according to The Hill.

The ruling is likely to affect Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations and potentially slow the pace of arrests. The Trump administration is likely to appeal Howell's decision.

Trump has set the goal of deporting at least 21 million illegal aliens. As of December 2025, the foreign-born population, including illegal aliens and lawful residents, had declined by 2 million due to a combination of deportations and voluntary exits.

Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent at Just the News. Follow him on X.