U.S COMMITTEE FOR REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANTS
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USCRI Denounces the Expansion of Expedited Removal: A Threat to Due Process and American Communities

January 24, 2025

On January 20, the Administration announced that it would take all appropriate action to ensure the efficient removal of undocumented immigrants from the United States. In this Executive Order, the Administration announced that it would expand the use of expedited removal within the broadest framework of the law.

Since its enactment in 1996, expedited removal has primarily been applied to noncitizens who arrive at designated ports of entry or are apprehended within 100 miles of the border within 14 days of arrival. With the recent Executive Order, however, noncitizens across the United States—not just those near the border—who were not admitted by immigration authorities and have been in the country for up to two years now face the risk of fast-tracked deportation. This policy threatens individuals and families who have already established their lives and built communities here.

This policy enables immigration officials to make life-altering decisions without adequate judicial review, disproportionately affecting individuals fleeing persecution and seeking refuge in the United States. Expedited removal offers far fewer protections than “formalremoval proceedings; individuals in expedited removal have no right to counsel, no right to a hearing, and no right to appeal.

“Expedited removal undermines the fundamental principles of due process enshrined in the Constitution,” said Eskinder Negash, USCRI President and CEO. “Expanding its scope only amplifies the likelihood of wrongful deportations, separating families, and returning people to dangerous conditions.”

This policy also heightens fear and mistrust within communities, deterring individuals from accessing critical services or reporting crimes, including trafficking and exploitation. By prioritizing speed over justice, expedited removal strips away the protections that ensure vulnerable populations are treated with dignity and respect under U.S. and international law.

USCRI calls on policymakers to halt the expansion of expedited removal and to reaffirm the nation’s commitment to upholding the rule of law and the rights of all individuals. We urge the implementation of policies that provide access to fair asylum processes, invest in community-based alternatives to detention, and support pathways to safety and stability for those seeking protection.

 

USCRI, founded in 1911, is a non-governmental, not-for-profit international organization committed to working on behalf of refugees and immigrants and their transition to a dignified life.

For press inquiries, please contact: [email protected]


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