The Trump administration is increasing the power of immigration officials to deport immigrants at a rapid pace.
What We Know:
- The new strategy will allow authorities to deport undocumented immigrants who illegally entered the U.S. within the past two years, without the approval of an immigration judge, NPR reported.
- Previously, the expedited removal process only applied to migrants caught within 100 miles of the border who had not been in the country for more than two weeks.
- Now, migrants detained in ANY PART of the U.S. who have not been in the country for more than TWO years could be subject to expedited removal.
- This tactic will allow low-level immigration authorities to decide if a detained individual will be deported. Expanding the expedited removal requirements is expected to increase removals by at least 20,000 per year.
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The Department of Homeland Security chief Kevin McAleenan released a statement on Monday saying, “the implementation of additional measures is a necessary response to the ongoing immigration crisis.” It continues, “DHS expects that the full use of expedited removal statutory authority will strengthen national security, diminish the number of illegal entries, and otherwise ensure the prompt removal of aliens apprehended in the United States.”
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The Washington Post reported that at least 20,500 migrants ICE apprehended last year and more than 6,400 it arrested this year (as of March) would be eligible for expedited removal. Many people are unhappy with the expansion and feel it is unlawful to remove individuals without due process.
Omar Jadwat, director of the American Civil Liberties Union’s Immigrants’ Rights Project said, “Under this unlawful plan, immigrants who have lived here for years would be deported with less due process than people get in traffic court.” He continued, “We will sue to end this policy quickly.”
