US Court Allows Resumption of Trump-Era Expedited Deportations

A U.S. appeals court has authorized the Trump administration to reinstate expedited deportation processes across the country. This policy, previously limited to individuals apprehended near the border, can now be applied to any non-citizen unable to demonstrate continuous residency of at least two years. The decision, made by a two-to-one vote by judges at the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, allows immigration officials to expel individuals without granting them a hearing before an immigration judge.

Judge Justin R. Walker, appointed by Trump, authored the majority opinion, joined by Judge Neomi Rao, also a Trump appointee. Walker argued that the policy itself is not illegal, stating, "The question is not whether some officials improperly implement a directive; it is whether the 'written policy directive' itself is unlawful." This ruling is seen as a victory for the White House's immigration agenda.

However, Judge Robert L. Wilkins, appointed by former President Barack Obama, dissented. He argued that the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) failed to disprove claims that the policy had led to the deportation of individuals who had resided in the country for over two years. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), representing the plaintiffs, is considering further legal action, calling the policy "unjust and error-prone."

Anand Balakrishnan, a senior attorney at the ACLU, stated that the court's decision undermines the fundamental principle of due process, which ensures individuals have the right to be heard when the government seeks to deport them. The organization contends that the expedited removal process, particularly when applied broadly, risks deporting people who have strong claims to remain in the United States.