An immigrant advocacy group has launched a legal challenge against the Trump administration’s expanded use of fast-track deportations, which aim to rapidly remove millions of undocumented individuals. The lawsuit, filed by Make the Road New York, argues that the policy, which prevents migrants from accessing legal representation or presenting evidence in their defense, violates constitutional rights and established immigration laws.
The fast-tracked process, referred to as expedited removal, allows for swift deportations—often within days or hours—bypassing the lengthy, more formal deportation proceedings that provide essential due process. The group is calling for the courts to limit the use of expedited removal to the stricter guidelines set by the Biden administration, which restricts the procedure to those detained within 14 days of entering the country and within 100 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border.
This latest move is a continuation of policies from the Trump administration, which previously expanded expedited removals during his first term. Legal experts warn that such expansions undermine fundamental protections guaranteed under the Constitution. According to Anand Balakrishnan of the American Civil Liberties Union, the policy risks bypassing legal safeguards, creating a “cheat code” for the government to sidestep due process altogether.
With the Department of Homeland Security’s recent expansion of the rule, anyone who entered the country illegally and cannot prove they’ve been in the U.S. for at least two years could now face expedited removal, denying them the opportunity for a fair hearing.
