Section 9 of the executive order introduces expedited removals, applicable to those who have been in the country for less than two years
When searching for a specific individual, ICE can arrest other undocumented individuals who are in the same location. (© USA Today)
The raids by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers have officially begun under the Donald Trump administration, Fox News announced in the last few hours.
The main target is the more than 700,000 migrants with criminal records and final orders of deportation who are on the records of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). However, nationwide there are an estimated total of 1.3 million people who have deportation orders,
including thousands of Cubans with I-220A or I-220B.
President Trump repealed deportation priorities set forth by the Biden administration, which focused on specific cases involving national security, public safety, and serious crimes. Under the new guidelines, anyone undocumented in U.S. territory can be deported, regardless of whether their infraction was minor. This leaves a large group of migrants exposed to immediate deportation processes.
In addition, the raids are generating "collateral damage." By searching for a specific individual, ICE can arrest other undocumented people who are in the same location, placing them in removal proceedings as well.
In conversation with journalist Daniel Benítez, immigration attorney José Guerrero warned about the groups that face the greatest risks:
- Migrants with criminal records and final orders of deportation, who are the main target.
- People in detention centers, who still have limited legal possibilities to appeal their cases.
- Those who illegally cross the border, now closed after a declaration of national emergency that allows automatic deportations without the option of asylum.
The recent executive order requires Customs and Border Protection (CBP), ICE, and Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to work together to prioritize deportations. CBP controls the borders, ICE executes deportations and USCIS administers immigration benefits, but now these agencies must coordinate efforts to maximize the efficiency of operations.
Section 9 of the executive order introduces expedited deportations, applicable to those who have been in the country for less than two years. This procedure allows ICE officers to issue deportation orders without judicial review, significantly speeding up processes. While enforcement will depend on the cooperation of countries of origin to receive their citizens, this measure promises to facilitate mass deportations.