Immigration Lawyer Blog
On February 20, 2017, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary, John Kelly, issued two memoranda dramatically changing how DHS treats foreign nationals illegally in the United States. Touching on numerous immigration issues, the memoranda will make it easier for foreign nationals to be quickly removed from the United States without going through normal immigration court procedures. The memoranda will also dramatically increase the number of foreign nationals that DHS will target for deportation. Below are some of the ways that the memoranda will dramatically affect foreign nationals illegally living in the United States.
Increased Use of Expedited Removal
Pursuant to U.S.C. § 1225(b)(1), any foreign national who arrives at a United States port of entry and is inadmissible under 8 U.S.C.§ 1182 (a)(6)(C) (misrepresentations and false claims to U.S. citizenship) or 8 U.S.C. § 1182(a)(7) (lack of valid entry documents), is subject to expedited removal. Expedited removal is a procedure which allows a DHS official to remove a foreign national from the United States without a hearing before an immigration judge. Foreign nationals facing expedited removal, usually do not have access to an attorney, and are usually removed from the United States within days (or even sometimes hours) of their entry into the country.
Historically, DHS only used expedited removal to remove foreign nationals in two circumstances. First, for individuals denied entry at a U.S. port of entry. Second, for foreign nationals apprehended within 14 days of their arrival in the United States, and who were apprehended within 100 miles of the border.
The new memoranda will dramatically increase the number of foreign national’s subject to expedited removal. Under the new policies, expedited removal will be used to removal foreign nationals throughout the United States, who have not been in the United States for over two years. Expedited removal will not be used against: (1) unaccompanied minors (2) individuals who claim to have valid immigration status in the United States or claim to be U.S. citizens; or (3), individuals who indicate an intent to apply for asylum.
Increased Detention of Foreign Nationals
The memoranda will also lead to a dramatic increase in the number of foreign nationals detained during their immigration court proceedings. Under the Obama administration, DHS routinely released foreign nationals while their immigration proceedings were ongoing unless: (1) the foreign national was deemed a threat to national security; (2) the foreign national had been convicted of certain criminal offenses; or (3), the alien had not been continuously physically present in the United States since January 1, 2014. These policies meant that under President Obama, most foreign nationals in immigration court proceedings were not detained.
The new policies laid out by the Trump administration, will make detention of foreign nationals the norm. Under the new policies, all foreign nationals in immigration proceedings will be detained unless:
- DHS determines that the foreign national is a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, a U.S. lawful permanent resident, refugee, asylee, holder of temporary protected status, or holds a valid immigration status in the United States;
- DHS is required to release the foreign national by statute or a court order;
- The Deputy Director of ICE or the Deputy Commissioner of CBP agrees to release the foreign national; or
- The arriving alien has been found to have established a credible fear of persecution or torture by an asylum officer or immigration judge.
Increased DHS’s Enforcement Priorities
The new policies also increase DHS’s enforcement priorities. Under the Obama administration, DHS targeted foreign nationals for removal who were: (1) national security risks; (2) apprehended at the border; or (3), convicted of certain felonies or misdemeanors. The new memoranda keep these priorities while at the same time also adding new categories to DHS’s enforcement priorities. DHS will now seek to remove foreign nationals that have been convicted or simply charged with committing any crime. In addition, DHS will seek to remove foreign nationals who: (1) have engaged in fraud or willful misrepresentation in connection with any official matter before a government agency; or (2) have abused any program related to the receipt of public benefits.
Decreased Use of Prosecutorial Discretion
Finally, DHS will increase removals against foreign nationals who do not fall into a DHS enforcement priority category. Under the Obama administration, when DHS encountered foreign nationals illegally in the United States who did not fall into a DHS enforcement priority category, they generally used their discretion to not begin removal proceedings against them. The new memoranda on the other hand, directs DHS to arrest and initiate removal proceedings against any foreign national illegally in the United States that they encounter.