Immigration officials can deport immigrants to countries other than their own with a six-hour notice, a Trump administration memo said.
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BOSTON – US immigration officers can deport migrants to countries other than their own with six-hour notice, the Trump administration’s chief executive said in a memo, providing a preview of how deportation could increase.
The US immigration and customs enforcement agency will wait at least 24 hours to wait at least 24 hours after someone expels them after notifying them of removal to a so-called “third country,” according to a memo made on Wednesday, July 9th.
However, as long as the person is offered the opportunity to talk to an attorney, the memo says.
The memo says immigrants can be sent to countries that have pledged not to persecute or torture them “without further procedures.”
The new ice policy suggests that President Donald Trump’s administration can move quickly and send immigrants to countries around the world.
The Supreme Court in June lifted a lower court order restricting such deportation without screening to fear persecution in the country of destination.
Following the High Court’s decision and subsequent orders from judges, the Trump administration sent eight immigrants from Cuba, Laos, Mexico, Myanmar, Sudan and Vietnam to war-torn South Sudan.
The administration has recently pressed officials from five African countries – Liberia, Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania and Gabon to accept decoys from other locations, Reuters reported.
The Washington Post first reported a new ICE memo.
The administration argues that deportation from third countries will help quickly eliminate immigrants who should not be in the United States, including those who have been criminally convicted.
Supporters criticized deportation as dangerous and cruel as it could cause people to face violence, be sent to non-bonded and non-language countries.
Trina Realmuto said she is an attorney for an immigration group pursuing a class action lawsuit against such a rapid third county deportation in the National Immigration Litigation Alliance, saying she is “far from providing the statutory and legitimate process protections required by the law.”
Although deportation from third countries has been carried out in the past, the tool can be used more frequently as Trump tries to step up deportation to record levels.
During Trump’s 2017-2021 presidency, his administration deported a small number of people from El Salvador and Honduras to Guatemala.
Former President Joe Biden’s Democratic administration has signed a contract with Mexico to bring thousands of immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela.
The new ICE memo was filed as evidence of a lawsuit relating to Maryland resident Kilmer Abrego Garcia’s illegal deportation to El Salvador.
Reported by Nate Raymond of Boston and Ted Hesson of Washington. Edited by Dianecraft
