This week, masked officers launched a coordinated operation across courthouses in the United States, arresting unsuspecting immigrants who were present for their scheduled immigration hearings. This move comes as part of a new directive from federal officials aimed at significantly accelerating the deportation process. According to internal documents reviewed by The Washington Post, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in states such as Arizona and Virginia, among more than 20 others, have been instructed to apprehend individuals immediately after a judge orders their deportation or when prosecutors opt to dismiss their cases.
The Trump administration is implementing a fast-track removal process for immigrants whose cases are dismissed, specifically targeting those who have been in the country for less than two years. Notably, this expedited process does not require a hearing before a judge. This initiative is part of the government’s broader strategy to swiftly remove individuals from the U.S., even if it means circumventing the judicial system. Concerns have been rising within the White House about President Donald Trump’s ability to fulfill his campaign promise of removing millions of undocumented immigrants from the United States.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi L. Noem has stated that the administration is reversing the Biden administration’s catch and release policy, which allowed many undocumented individuals to remain in the U.S. while their cases were pending. According to department spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin, “ICE is now following the law and placing these illegal aliens in expedited removal, as they always should have been.” This shift stems from an executive order signed by Trump in January, aimed at expanding the expedited removal process originally established in a 1996 law designed to combat illegal immigration.
While migrants can request asylum from immigration officers if they fear persecution in their home countries, those denied asylum face only a cursory review by an immigration judge rather than a full hearing. Historically, expedited removals have been applied primarily at the border, but the Trump administration is broadening their application to the interior of the nation. A similar attempt to expedite deportations in 2019 was halted by a federal judge.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and other organizations filed a federal lawsuit in January to challenge the latest changes, arguing that they infringe upon immigrants’ constitutional rights and violate U.S. laws. They claim that asylum seekers “would get less due process contesting their deportation than they would contesting a traffic ticket.” Despite the ongoing legal battle, Trump officials are actively pushing to implement this rapid arrest and deportation agenda.
This week, Department of Homeland Security attorneys in various locations moved to dismiss numerous deportation cases, indicating that individuals were free to leave. However, as soon as these immigrants exited the courthouses, they were met by federal law enforcement officers who promptly handcuffed them and transported them to immigration detention facilities. In cities like Phoenix and Seattle, attorneys expressed shock as federal agents apprehended their clients immediately following court dismissals.
San Diego immigration attorney Michael Hirman, a Trump supporter, recounted representing a Venezuelan man who fled his country to avoid enforcing oppressive laws under Nicolás Maduro’s regime. After a motion to dismiss his client’s case was filed, Hirman believed his client was free to pursue asylum. However, this hope was dashed when a dozen ICE agents detained his client right after the court session.
In contrast, the Biden administration has focused on deporting individuals with criminal records while dismissing thousands of cases involving minors or asylum seekers. Biden officials have expressed that ICE should generally avoid making arrests in immigration courts to maintain the integrity of the judicial process and encourage individuals to attend their hearings.
The American Immigration Lawyers Association is currently monitoring these enforcement actions to assess whether the fast-track procedure violates court rules and the rights of immigrants to contest their cases. Greg Chen, the group’s senior director, emphasized that the administration’s approach undermines the judicial system, which should operate fairly and justly.
Retired immigration judge Jennie Giambastiani noted that traditionally, arrests in immigration courts occurred only for individuals wanted for other crimes. She expressed deep concern over the current situation, stating, “The blindsiding of these people who appear in court is heartbreaking and not what I want this country to be.” Attorney Melissa Shepard from the Immigrant Defenders Law Center described the tactic of detaining individuals seeking legal status as a cruel method to instill fear within the community, potentially discouraging many from pursuing their cases.
As the situation evolves, it remains clear that the ongoing enforcement actions and the rapid deportation policies are reshaping the landscape of immigration law and the lives of countless individuals seeking refuge and a new beginning in the United States.
