An immigration-focused bail bondsman business has filed legal action against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) during the Trump administration, challenging policies that allegedly harmed its operations before January 6th.

StateWide Bonding, Inc., a company operating under names like Free U Bonds, specializes in providing bail services for undocumented immigrants released from Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities. The firm filed suit against DHS policies related to immigration bonds prior to the January 6th Capitol attack.

The lawsuit targeted what StateWide alleged were unfair financial penalties imposed by DHS when immigrant clients failed court appearances. Plaintiffs claimed DHS often did not notify detainees of their upcoming court dates or times, leaving bond companies with insufficient time to locate missing individuals after release and risking millions in penalties for doing so.

This case was heard in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia before the January 6th events transpired. Following legal challenges, an appeals court ruled against StateWide’s claims weeks prior to the Capitol insurrection.

Interestingly, this lawsuit occurred while the company operated primarily from Knoxville, Tennessee. The business had faced previous scrutiny including suspension in nearby districts on ethical grounds related to their bond services for undocumented immigrants.

The case gained additional attention when Brian Cole, Sr., the owner of the company, held a press conference with prominent civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump weeks after the initial court ruling against StateWide Bonding. They accused a prosecutor involved in the business’s suspension of racial discrimination and anti-Black racism targeting their minority-owned enterprise.

Court documents later revealed further complications for the family-run business: Brian Cole Sr had allegedly misrepresented his financial history during previous legal proceedings despite facing bankruptcies and tax liens twice previously.

The timing of these events has drawn attention to them, particularly regarding the January 6th incident where company son Brian Cole Jr. was identified by authorities as having allegedly employed materials acquired from May 2019 onward for planting pipe bombs outside DNC and RNC headquarters during that period.