The Department of Homeland Security, under President Donald Trump, is taking steps to reverse a key immigration policy implemented during the Biden administration.
According to Breitbart, with the policy shift, the Trump administration aims to reopen deportation cases that were administratively closed, resuming deportation proceedings.
This policy change marks a departure from the immigration approach during Joe Biden's presidency. The previous administration's policy instructed immigration courts to administratively close or dismiss deportation cases. Adan Rico and Torres are among those affected by this renewed focus on deportation proceedings.
The Department of Homeland Security's move is aimed at undoing what it calls a "quiet amnesty" for illegal aliens. Under the Biden administration, immigration courts were guided to halt deportation proceedings by closing or dismissing cases. This policy shift, according to the current administration, will ensure that each immigration case is adjudicated in court.
DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin criticized the previous policy, stating, “Biden chose to release millions of illegal aliens, including criminals, into the country and used prosecutorial discretion to indefinitely delay their cases.” The argument is that under the former administration, a significant number of illegal aliens remained in the United States without facing immigration consequences.
The House Judiciary’s Subcommittee report highlighted concerns about these administrative closures. The report stated that over 700,000 cases were affected during Biden's term, allowing many individuals to indefinitely reside in the country without legal consequences.
The reopening of deportation cases means that individuals like Adan Rico and Torres now face the possibility of detention and deportation. These cases, previously closed, are being reexamined as part of the broader effort to enhance immigration enforcement.
Tricia McLaughlin emphasized the impact of the previous policy by expressing concerns about how it affected immigration law enforcement. The reactivation of these immigration cases signals an increased focus on adjudicating cases rather than letting them remain dormant. This marks a significant shift in policy and practice from the previous administration.
The House Judiciary’s Subcommittee report argues that the Biden-Harris Administration allowed these cases to remain unresolved in an attempt to address the immigration court backlog. The report emphasized that more than 700,000 illegal aliens had their cases closed, terminated, or administratively dismissed without facing immigration consequences.
The push to reopen cases demonstrates the Department of Homeland Security’s focus on addressing immigration issues through the legal process. This approach signifies a return to prioritizing the active adjudication of all pending cases rather than indefinitely postponing them.
By reopening deportation cases, the current administration aims to address criticisms that prosecutorial discretion was used to provide amnesty. DHS's current actions illustrate a shift in enforcement priorities and align with their goal to ensure that each case is heard and resolved through legal proceedings.
This policy change underlines the differing immigration strategies between the current and previous administrations. The Trump administration's renewed effort to finalize previously closed cases underscores its commitment to altering the approach undertaken by the Biden administration.
In summary, the Department of Homeland Security is undoing a policy of closing deportation cases, effectively seeking to enhance enforcement, address unresolved cases, and focus on immigration adjudication. This marks a significant policy shift from the previous administration's approach, emphasizing the importance of court adjudication for all immigration cases.
