A federal judge has issued an order blocking President Trump’s efforts to quickly deport illegal immigrants under a recent executive order. The decision, delivered by U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb, halts the administration’s expanded use of expedited removal procedures.
In January, President Trump signed an executive order titled “Protecting the American People Against Invasion.” In the order, Trump stated: “Over the last 4 years, the prior administration invited, administered, and oversaw an unprecedented flood of illegal immigration into the United States. Millions of illegal aliens crossed our borders or were permitted to fly directly into the United States on commercial flights and allowed to settle in American communities, in violation of longstanding Federal laws.”
The executive order also said: “Many of these aliens unlawfully within the United States present significant threats to national security and public safety, committing vile and heinous acts against innocent Americans. Others are engaged in hostile activities, including espionage, economic espionage, and preparations for terror-related activities. Many have abused the generosity of the American people, and their presence in the United States has cost taxpayers billions of dollars at the Federal, State, and local levels.”
Judge Cobb described President Trump’s approach as a “skimpy process.” In her opinion she wrote: “The procedures the Government currently uses in expedited removal, however, create a significant risk that it will not identify these disqualifying criteria before quickly ordering someone removed. And the lack of available review means that once the removal happens, it is largely too late to correct the error.”
According to Politico reporting on Friday evening’s ruling, Judge Cobb granted a request from an immigrant advocacy group to stop policies announced by Trump’s administration in January. These policies would have made millions more immigrants eligible for expedited expulsion from inside U.S. borders.
