Trump administration The United States is dramatically expanding its powers to quickly deport illegal immigrants, one of a number of quick moves the administration has taken to make good on its promise to launch a mass deportation operation.
The Department of Homeland Security notice, issued Tuesday, removes restrictions on expedited removal authority that were put in place in March 2022 during the Biden administration. Until the new memo, officials' use of the authority was limited to 100 miles from the border or recent arrivals.
Expedited removal allows for the expedited removal of illegal immigrants who fail to meet asylum criteria or do not seek asylum. The new authority removes the 2022 limits, allowing agents to remove those who cannot prove they have lived in the United States for at least two years.
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Asylum seekers wait for their appointments at CBP One before crossing through the El Chaparral border port in Tijuana, Mexico, on January 20, 2025. (Carlos Moreno/Norphoto via Getty Images)
“Currently, immigration officials may apply expedited deportation to aliens arrested anywhere in the United States up to two years after the alien arrives in the United States, provided the alien arrives by sea and meets other conditions for expedited removal.” The notice was signed by Acting Homeland Security Secretary Benjamin Hoffman.
“In particular, full application of expedited removal authority will enable the Department of Homeland Security to more effectively and efficiently handle the large number of aliens who are in the United States illegally, without admission or parole into the United States, and ensure prompt removal from United States to those who are not entitled to enter, remain, or receive relief or protection from removal.”
The memo came a day later DHS has been abolished A Biden-era memo limits where Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers can arrest illegal immigrants. Another memorandum ordered a review of the use of humanitarian parole to accept immigrants.
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Tom Homan speaks at the Republican National Convention on July 17, 2024, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Chip Somodevila/Getty Images)
This, in turn, followed a series of executive orders signed by President Donald Trump that declared a national emergency at the border, halted refugee resettlement, ordered non-asylum removal, ordered the reconstruction of the border wall and deployed the military to the border.
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Trump promised a “historic” mass deportation and his border czar Tom HomanHe said on Tuesday that the process is already underway.
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“No, (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) has started. The teams are there as of today,” Homan told US Newsroom. “We've given them directions to prioritize the public safety threats we're looking for. We've been working on preparing a target list.”
Fox News' Bill Melogen contributed to this report.
