A federal judge has halted the administration’s effort to swiftly deport undocumented immigrants nationwide. The ruling stops a process that bypassed full court hearings.
Judge Jia M. Cobb wrote that depriving people of hearings ignores their Fifth Amendment rights, especially for those here long past two years. She noted that speed cannot outweigh fair process.
The expedited removal policy originally applied only at the southern border. The Trump team extended it across all U.S. ports of entry and interior checkpoints.
Under the change, immigrants who cannot prove two-year residency lose the right to a full hearing. Court orders tell immigration judges to dismiss cases immediately.
Scenes have emerged of agents in masks arresting people as they leave court or check-in appointments. Critics say this creates fear and deters immigrants from seeking asylum.
Cobb explained that people with extended residence have a weighty liberty interest. They deserve a hearing to challenge the government’s claims against them.
The judge called the government’s argument startling. It claimed that undocumented entrants have no due process rights and must accept whatever Congress allows.
Cobb warned that this logic would allow the government to accuse anyone of illegal entry, remove them quickly, and leave no chance to contest charges.
She stressed that once someone is removed, it is largely too late to correct the error. The fast-track system risks permanent wrongful deportations.
This policy reversal follows the administration’s elimination of courthouse arrest restrictions. A past measure protected those attending hearings from ICE arrests.
A federal lawsuit noted that agents initially faced limits on courthouse arrests to avoid palpable fear among defendants. Those limits vanished under the new policy.
Nearly 200,000 people have been deported since January 2025, setting the stage for the highest removal numbers in a decade. Over 60,000 remain in detention centers.
The ACLU called the fast-track system unfair, arbitrary, and error-prone. Senior attorney Anand Balakrishnan praised the decision for upholding core due process principles.
Cobb’s order may slow the pace of deportations and force the administration to restore full hearings for those facing removal. The ruling applies in Washington, D.C.
Legal experts say the decision challenges a central pillar of the mass deportation agenda. It highlights the tension between enforcement speed and constitutional rights.
Immigrant advocates hope the ruling sets a precedent to block similar measures in other jurisdictions. The administration has yet to announce whether it will appeal.
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With the nationwide policy on hold, immigrants and their lawyers await guidance on how courts will handle pending cases under the old rules.
The judge’s decision marks a key check on executive power. It reaffirms that due process cannot be sacrificed for rapid enforcement goals.
