US Immigration Memo Details Broadened Deportation to Third Countries
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) may now deport immigrants to nations where they do not hold citizenship or familial connections, often with minimal notice, according to recent media reports.
As reported on Saturday, ICE can execute deportations with as little as six hours’ notice, even in situations where the receiving countries have not provided assurances of safety, following a recent Supreme Court ruling that allows these actions to commence “immediately,” as stated by ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons in the Washington Post.
Typically, deportees are given a 24-hour notice; however, under “exigent circumstances,” removals can occur after just six hours, as outlined in the memo.
This new policy represents a notable shift from past practices, where deportations to third countries were uncommon.
Immigration attorneys caution that this change could jeopardize the safety of thousands, including individuals previously identified as at risk if returned to their countries of origin.
“It places thousands of lives in jeopardy of persecution and torture,” remarked Trina Realmuto, the head of the National Immigration Litigation Alliance, which is contesting the ruling in court.
Lyons’s directive allows for expedited removals based on assurances recognized by the US State Department.
In the absence of such assurances, immigrants may still be deported unless they express fear during the brief notification period.
Those who do express fear will undergo screenings within 24 hours to determine their eligibility for protection under US law and the Convention Against Torture, which the US ratified in 1994.
A Supreme Court ruling on June 23 overturned a lower court’s injunction against this policy.
In her dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor cautioned, “In matters of life and death, it is best to proceed with caution.”
Critics, including legal representatives and immigrant advocates, contend that the procedures detailed in the memo do not afford sufficient time or legal recourse for migrants to challenge potentially perilous deportations.
Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg, the lead attorney in a related case, stated, “This is a group of individuals who believed they were safe.”
The Department of Homeland Security has not yet disclosed how many individuals may be impacted by the new policy.
