Signed by acting Homeland Security Secretary Benjamine Huffman, the directive empowers Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials with significant authority to expedite deportations for those who arrived under two Biden-era programs that have facilitated entry for over a million immigrants since 2023.
These programs include the government-run app CBP One for scheduling migrants and a parole program offering temporary legal status for specific countries.
The memo directs ICE to target immigrants who have been in the U.S. for over a year without applying for asylum, effectively bypassing traditional immigration court processes.
Following the memo's release, Trump’s press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, announced on X that "Deportation flights have begun," sharing images of individuals boarding military-style aircraft.
While such flights have been common across administrations, the White House has highlighted ICE's actions and recently deployed troops, including U.S. Marines, to the U.S.-Mexico border.
A DHS spokesperson defended the new policies, asserting that "criminals will no longer be able to hide in America's schools and Churches," while the ACLU has already filed a federal lawsuit against the policy, labeling it a "mass deportation agenda " that undermines constitutional rights.
Thousands who had either received or were awaiting CBP One appointments south of the border faced significant distress this week following the sudden shutdown of the app immediately after Trump's inauguration.
Those already in the United States utilizing the app and preparing to seek asylum may now find themselves in precarious situations.
On the same day, the Trump administration announced the nationwide expansion of fast-track deportation authority, enabling immigration officers to deport individuals without judicial oversight.
This expansion of "expedited removal" authority was detailed in a notice published in the Federal Register, outlining the new regulations.
The "expedited removal" process grants enforcement agencies extensive powers to deport individuals without the necessity of a court appearance, although there are limited exceptions for those who express a fear of returning to their home country and successfully complete an initial asylum screening interview.