A federal judge has struck down a Department of Homeland Security policy implemented in July that forced most immigrants who entered the United States without inspection to remain in detention throughout their removal proceedings.

The decision could potentially allow thousands of immigrants who have been subject to mandatory detention to be released.

On Tuesday, Judge Sunshine Suzanne Sykes in California certified a class granting relief to migrants who "have entered or will enter the United States without inspection" and those who were not initially detained when they came into the country.

In July, DHS instituted a policy that required ICE to consider immigrants arrested in the U.S. and deemed inadmissible as "applicants for admission." The policy removed immigrants' ability to seek r

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