Official records from the U.S. Congress

Trump Administration Expands Expedited Deportations Nationwide, Citing National Emergency and 212(f) Authority

Jan 22, 2025, 05:58 PM

The Trump administration has implemented a policy to expand expedited deportations across the United States, allowing immigration officials to deport undocumented immigrants without judicial review if they cannot prove they have been in the country for more than two years. This policy, known as 'expedited removal,' was previously limited to areas near the U.S. borders but is now applicable nationwide. President Trump, shortly after his inauguration, declared a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border, citing his 212(f) authority to bar entry of migrants deemed to be participating in an 'invasion' or posing a public health or national security risk. The policy aims to enhance national security and public safety while reducing government costs by facilitating swift immigration determinations. U.S. border agents have been instructed to summarily deport migrants crossing into the country illegally without allowing them to request legal protection, effectively suspending asylum hearings under this new directive. The policy applies across Texas' border with Mexico and other border areas, including coastal sectors in Florida and the U.S.-Canada border. Migrants not from Mexico are to be detained pending deportation, while those with criminal histories are subject to prosecution. Releases of migrants into the U.S. are largely prohibited, except in life-threatening situations. The Trump administration has also shut down the CBP One process, which had allowed up to 1,500 migrants to enter the U.S. daily. This move comes amidst record migrant arrivals and is likely to face legal challenges, with Lee Gelernt of the American Civil Liberties Union stating, 'Put simply, this order ends asylum at the United States border for anyone fleeing danger, even for families persecuted on the basis of their religion or political speech.'