The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to review the Trump administration's policy requiring mandatory detention without bond hearings for many immigrants who entered the country illegally.

The decision marks one of the first immigration cases the justices have accepted for the new term that begins Monday. The policy stems from a 2025 reinterpretation of a 1996 immigration law by the Department of Homeland Security, which classifies noncitizens already living in the United States as subject to mandatory detention during removal proceedings.

Under the approach, immigration officials have held thousands of individuals without the opportunity for a bond hearing to assess flight risk or public safety concerns. Detention numbers have risen sharply, reaching more than 65,000 this past summer compared to under 40,000 at the end of the prior administration.

The case before the court involves a Brazilian national who entered the United States illegally around 2004 and was arrested in 2025. He sought a bond hearing after an immigration judge ruled detention mandatory. The policy has prompted thousands of habeas petitions nationwide.

Federal appeals courts remain divided, with most circuits rejecting the administration's reading of the law while two have upheld it. The high court is expected to hear arguments early next year and issue a ruling by June 2027.

The administration has defended the measure as essential to preventing evasion of proceedings and ensuring removals occur. Supporters argue it strengthens enforcement amid record encounters at the border in prior years. Critics, including the ACLU, contend the policy affects long-term residents and exceeds statutory authority.

The review comes as the Trump administration advances broader deportation priorities, including efforts on third-country removals already fast-tracked by the court. A favorable ruling could solidify tools for interior enforcement operations.