Historically, the expedited deportation policy has been used mostly to deport people who have just crossed the border or are found within 100 miles of it. However, the Trump administration plans to expand the use of the policy to any person who cannot prove that they have been in the country for more than two years.
“Biden ignored this legal fact and chose to release millions of illegal aliens, including violent criminals, into the country with a notice to appear before an immigration judge,” DHS said in its statement. “ICE is now following the law and placing these illegal aliens in expedited removal, as they always should have been.”
Immigration advocates speaking to a crowd of at least 100 people gathered outside the downtown San Francisco immigration court facility Wednesday said the arrests and deportations are designed to stoke fear and undermine immigrants’ rights.
“This is part of a coordinated campaign by the Trump administration to undermine due process, to not give people their day in court,” Knox said, adding that government officials are also posting flyers on the walls of courthouses that encourage immigrants to “self-deport” and mislead them about their rights in an asylum case.
The actions are especially alarming because they are sowing panic and could prevent some immigrants from appearing for a hearing in their case, Knox said. If an asylum seeker misses a hearing, they automatically lose and can be ordered to be deported in absentia.
“People are really panicked,” Knox said. “The one place that folks thought they had to go was safe to go, now ICE is arresting people.”
