Federal court allows ICE to expand expedited deportations nationwide

A federal appeals court has granted the Trump administration a significant victory, allowing for the nationwide expansion of expedited deportation processes. The 2-1 decision by the U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Columbia Circuit empowers federal immigration officials to deport certain unauthorized immigrants without requiring court hearings.

Previously, expedited removal was largely confined to areas near the U.S. border and applied to individuals who had entered the country within the preceding two weeks. The newly permitted policy broadens this scope considerably, enabling officials to target any unauthorized immigrant who cannot prove they have resided in the U.S. for more than two years.

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The order vindicated our decision to apply the law as written.

This appellate ruling invalidates a prior decision by a federal judge in August 2025, who had determined that the administration's expansion of expedited removal infringed upon due process rights. James Percival, the top lawyer at DHS, hailed the court's order as a vindication of their approach to enforcing the law as written. He also referenced the administration's incentives, such as offering a $2,600 check and a free flight home, to encourage voluntary departures.

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It's not too late to take a $2,600 check and a free flight home!