A federal appeals court on Friday upheld the Trump administration's policy allowing the detention of immigrants without bail. The decision affects people who have lived in the United States for decades and even those without criminal records, who may remain detained while their immigration proceedings continue. A divided three-judge panel of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Trump administration has the legal authority to detain immigrants while their cases proceed through the immigration system, even if they were previously free on bond. The decision upholds the federal government's interpretation of its power regarding immigration detention. Judge Edith Jones, appointed by former President Ronald Reagan, wrote the majority opinion in the 2-1 ruling: “The fact that prior administrations have chosen to use less of their enforcement authority does not mean they did not have the power to do more.” The ruling contrasts with previous decisions by federal courts that had deemed the policy implemented by the Trump administration last year illegal. However, this is the first time an appeals court has formally validated this approach to immigrant detention. The ruling applies only to states under the jurisdiction of the Fifth Circuit: Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi, where numerous immigration cases are concentrated. According to Politico, this decision is unlikely to be final, as the issue could continue to escalate in the courts. An expert told CNN that the policy of immigrant detention and bail in immigration proceedings will continue to be the subject of legal battles in the United States.