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The Superb Owl
The Trump administration is considering expanding the Department of Homeland Security's ability to removal certain illegal immigrants from the country without a court hearing before a judge, according to a report.
The agency is weighing expanding the process known as expedited removal to illegal immigrants apprehended anywhere in the U.S. who cannot prove they have lived in the country continuously for more than 90 days.
Under current rules, the Homeland Security Department can only forgo immigration courts for immigrants who have been living in the country illegally for less than two weeks and were arrested within 100 miles of the border.
A 13-page agency memo that described this potential plan.
Two administration confirmed that the memo was shared within the White House in May, and DHS is reviewing comments on the document from the Office of Management and Budget.
Joanne Talbot, a Homeland Security spokeswoman, said that "The potential changes would allow DHS to more efficiently use resources to remove persons who have been illegally present for relatively brief periods of time while still observing due-process requirements."
Immigration advocacy groups argue the proposal would restrict more people of due-process rights to seek asylum or other legal status in the country.
In two immigration executive orders signed in January, Trump indicated he wanted to expand the use of expedited removals.
The potential change would be part of a stricter Trump administration approach to illegal immigration. The administration has already rescinded a policy from former President Barack Obama that limited the categories of illegal immigrants targeted for deportation to serious criminals, and recent border-crossers.
The number of immigrants illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border has fallen significantly since Trump took office.
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/t...rants-without-a-court-hearing/article/2628754
