Federal Judge Temporarily Blocks Expanded Deportation Policy

A federal court has temporarily halted the Trump administration’s efforts to broaden the expedited removal process for undocumented immigrants across the country. Judge Jia Cobb, based in Washington, D.C., and appointed during President Biden’s tenure, emphasized that prioritizing speed over due process risks wrongful deportations.

The Trump administration sought to extend the use of expedited removals—normally applied within 14 days of entry and within 100 miles of the border—to individuals living anywhere in the U.S., including those here for less than two years and without prior due process. The policy aimed to expedite deportations without court hearings, a tool that was crucial to Trump’s mass removal plans.

In her 48-page ruling, Cobb clarified that while expedited removal laws are constitutional at the border, applying them to the interior of the country requires adherence to due process. “Procedures currently in place do not adequately protect those affected,” she stated, emphasizing that mistaken removals could occur if speed is prioritized over fairness.

The policy was initially implemented in October 2020, leading to the deportation of 17 foreign nationals before being discontinued by the Biden administration, according to a migration policy report. The court’s ruling now prevents the government from using expedited removal on immigrants granted parole status or those living inside the U.S. without proper hearings.

Judge Cobb is also expected to rule on a separate lawsuit against former President Trump filed by Federal Reserve Board Governor Lisa Cook. Critics argue that the ruling sidesteps presidential authority, while officials from the Department of Homeland Security defend the policy, citing lawful enforcement efforts aimed at removing those with limited residency in the country.