Deportations in the midst of a health emergency

The sudden arrival of the global COVID-19 pandemic forced governments around the world to adopt emergency measures to prevent the massive spread of the virus, as well as to protect the economy, the health system and provide the best possible conditions for the local population and citizens who lost their jobs due to the economic crisis brought on by the pandemic.

In the case of the US, many emergency measures implemented by the current administration, with President Donald Trump leading, tremendously affected the immigration sector, restricting processes of all kinds, including humanitarian alternatives for the most vulnerable immigrant communities like asylum seekers.

Due to the health crisis, the Trump administration increased restrictions and requirements for foreigners to enter the US, and, in addition to that, it also allowed express deportations in the midst of a global pandemic unprecedented in the recent history of humanity.

By the term “expedited or express removals,” we refer to the right of border forces such as CBP (Customs and Border Protection) and ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) to deport undocumented immigrants in a matter of hours, without giving them the opportunity to present their cases before a local judge or submit an application for the USCIS (US Citizenship and Immigration Services) to review it. This process is allowed under the premise of a sanitary emergency and with the approval of CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) and the Trump administration.

Do you need help with a Deportation Case? Our team can help you.

CBP deported newly born American citizens

One of CBP’s tasks is to protect the borders and detain immigrants who try to cross them without legal documentation and who plan to enter the US without following processes established by the local immigration system.

When entities such as CBP or ICE detain undocumented immigrants, they usually take them to immigration detention centers or family centers, where they must wait for their deportation processes to complete or until they receive a response to their immigration applications.

However, the Trump administration allowed border forces to deport undocumented immigrants almost immediately on health emergency grounds, including, in many cases, unaccompanied minors and even newly born in the US.

In fact, a recent report by The Intercept reveals that CBP deported newborns, along with their mothers, to risky and dangerous environments amid the health crisis caused by the global Coronavirus pandemic. It is important to clarify that the toddlers mentioned in the report were born in the US after their mothers crossed the borders without legal documentation.

Under local law, anyone born in the American territory is by right a citizen. However, according to the testimony of at least three immigrant mothers, the CBP sent them to Mexico shortly after giving birth in the US and their newborns did not get any certificate of citizenship.

The Trump administration has yet to comment on the accusations by immigrants deported with their newborns.

Protect your future and take expert advice before starting your immigration journey

It is imperative to seek reliable expert help when starting an immigration journey in the US. In this way, by following the advice of experienced attorneys, you can learn about alternatives available for your particular case and choose the process that best suits your current needs.

If you have any questions about an immigration issue or relating to a case you may have currently in progress, then please don’t hesitate to contact us for a FREE Phone Consultation with one of our expert immigration attorneys.

Simply call Motion Law today at: (202) 918-1799.