Up until this change, expedited removal was only used for illegal immigrants who were detained within 100 miles of the border - now it can be enforced anywhere in the U.S.
BREAKING: Expedited removal to be expanded to apply everywhere within the U.S. (not just 100-mile border zone) and to anyone not in the U.S. more than two years. Federal Reg Notice will be published tomorrow. https://t.co/RHSfs0AmhJ
— Royce B. Murray (@roycebmurray) July 22, 2019
This is an enormous shift in immigration law—and would be a dramatic expansion in the number of individuals who would be subject to “expedited removal.”
— Steve Vladeck (@steve_vladeck) July 22, 2019
Among other things, those in that category are entitled to far less judicial review of their asylum (and other legal) claims. https://t.co/yomFBukb3T
Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, the Trump Administration argues the Acting Homeland Security Secretary has the 'sole and unreviewable discretion' to change 'the scope of the expedited removal designation,' shifting it from the 100 mile policy to one that applies nationwide.
Critics denounced the immigration policy change, with some vowing to challenge the move in court.
"One of the major problems with expedited removal is that the immigration officer making the decision virtually has unchecked authority," said the American Immigration Council, as the process does not involve an immigration judge or any type of court hearing.
"We will sue to end this policy quickly," said Omar Jadwat of the American Civil Liberties Union, who charged that deportations could occur with "less due process than people get in traffic court."
"This is a massive and dangerous change," said Aaron Reichlin-Melnick of the American Immigration Council, which is joining in the ACLU legal challenge to the new policy.
.@MigrationPolicy estimates about 297,000 unauthorized immigrants living in US could be subject to Trump administration's #ExpeditedRemoval expansion
— MigrationPolicy Inst (@MigrationPolicy) July 22, 2019
The #ExpeditedRemoval expansion announced today applies to unauthorized immigrants who:
— MigrationPolicy Inst (@MigrationPolicy) July 22, 2019
1️⃣ entered US less than 2 years ago
2️⃣ crossed a border illegally to enter
The announcement marked the second straight week that the Trump Administration had rolled out a new immigration policy - last Monday, the feds announced a new plan to restrict asylum claims by migrants from Central America.
Those plans are also facing a legal challenge from the ACLU and other groups.
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