Judges Deployed to Immigrant Detention Centers

In hopes of improving an increasingly log-jammed immigration court system, the U.S. Department of Justice has deployed 50 immigration judges to immigrant detention centers across the country. The goal of this move is to implement Trump’s campaign promises to speed up deportations and hold immigrants in detention until they can be deported. Trump also issued an executive order in January that eliminated the “catch and release” policy that has prevailed in the immigration court system for years. Under this policy, immigration judges released immigrants caught without legal status, along with a date to appear in court. Given the backlog of 550,000 cases, many of the court dates given to these released immigrants will not occur until years in the future. The president replaced the “catch and release” policy with fast-track deportations and the detention of immigrants until their cases can be heard. The Department of Justice (DOJ) also is reportedly considering extending the times during which immigration judges hear deportation cases, with judges working rotating shifts between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. The federal government reportedly also intends to ask judges to volunteer for one to two-month deployments at detention centers. If not enough judges volunteer, however, the DOJ may assign judges directly to detention centers. The first 50 judges to volunteer are slated to be deployed to Adelanto, CA, San Diego, and Chicago, among other large cities. Currently, the majority of federal immigration judges work from courts across the country. Only a few judges are typically stationed at detention centers. The Department of Homeland Security also reportedly has asked the Trump administration to expand the usage of expedited deportation proceedings for any immigrants living in the U.S. without legal status for two years or less. Under current policy, immigration authorities only can use expedited deportation proceedings for immigrants who have been in the U.S. for two weeks or less. The deportation defense lawyers of Landerholm Immigration, A.P.C. have handled countless deportation defense claims on behalf of individuals who are charged with removal. We know how devastating it can be for individuals to face the results of detention and deportation, leaving friends and family members behind. We care about you and your family, and we want to help you remain in the country. Call our office as soon as possible to set up your initial legal consultation.