The health emergency allowed mass deportations

The sudden arrival of the global Coronavirus pandemic and its massive outbreak in the US forced the Trump administration to adopt emergency measures to mitigate the impact of the health crisis, as well as to carry out strategies and action plans to restore the economic balance after a considerable increase in the local unemployment rate.

It means that the global pandemic brought not only a health crisis, but also an economic and social crisis. Other than that, under the threat to public health and in the midst of an unprecedented sanitary emergency, governments have the power to implement unconventional methods, which would normally be classified as extreme or unnecessary.

For instance, in the case of the US, the Trump administration allowed express deportations amid the health crisis. Under this emergency measure, border forces such as ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) or CBP (Customs and Border Protection) can deport undocumented immigrants in a matter of hours, without giving them the opportunity to request international protection through humanitarian programs or present their cases before a local judge.

The fact that the Trump administration allowed express deportations amid a global pandemic caught the attention of activists and immigrant rights advocates for several reasons.

Let’s look at some of them:

1. President Donald Trump has always wanted to reduce immigration at all costs. Therefore, activist groups state that his government is using the health crisis as an excuse to fulfill its “anti-immigration agenda.“
2. Immigrants who arrive or cross the borders without legal documentation are usually trying to flee danger, persecution, or violence. Thus, it is the US’ duty to offer them the opportunity to seek international protection.
3. The Trump administration allowed the deportation of unaccompanied minors, without giving them the opportunity to request political asylum or refuge.
   In fact, express deportations of minors sparked a gigantic controversy in the US.

Visit our Blog section to keep up to date with the latest immigration news.

Judge banned deportations of unaccompanied minors

Due to the risk of deporting unaccompanied minors in the midst of a global pandemic, on November 18, 2020, a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to halt deportations of immigrant minors.

The judge stated that minors could be victims of abuse, violence, kidnapping, human trafficking, inter alia. Adding to that, under local law, the US has the obligation to offer them humanitarian alternatives to protect their lives.

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

The Trump administration did not comply with the order regarding deportations of unaccompanied minors

Almost a month after the judge’s verdict, on December 12, 2020, the DOJ (Department of Justice) admitted that the DHS (Department of Homeland Security) did not fully follow the judge’s mandate. Therefore, at least 66 unaccompanied immigrant minors have been deported since then.

Adding to that, the DOJ states: “Defendants (DHS-DOJ) regret that class members (unaccompanied minors) were expelled contrary to the Court’s injunction and are committed to full compliance with the Court’s injunction going forward.”

Contact Motion Law Immigration and protect your future

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.