New York, NY—Today, the United States D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals sided with the Trump administration, restoring its 2025 nationwide expedited removal policy. The ruling allows immigration officials to fast-track the deportation of immigrants believed to be undocumented by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) inside the United States, bypassing a hearing before an Immigration Court, if they fail to demonstrate that they have continuously lived in the country for at least two years.
Murad Awawdeh, President and CEO, New York Immigration Coalition:
“Every immigrant in this country facing deportation is entitled to due process and a fair opportunity to make their case in front of a judge and be heard in court, yet today’s ruling creates a two-tiered system of justice for immigrants simply because they have lived in the country for less than two years. By allowing the Trump administration to revive its nationwide expanded expedited removal policy, the court has opened the door for people who have established roots in this country to be deported without a fair opportunity at justice or little opportunity to seek legal protection. Coupled with ICE’s tactics of racially-based arrests, this policy puts at risk anyone in the country who ICE suspects is an undocumented immigrant and who does not carry evidence of the length of residency. This policy moves us closer to a “show me your papers” regime. This policy prioritizes deportation quotas over due process and places thousands of families under threat of family separation. Congress must act to restore due process protections, strengthen safeguards against wrongful deportations, and ensure every person facing removal has an opportunity to be heard.”