A federal appeals court has cleared the way for the Trump administration to expand a fast-track deportation process across the United States, allowing immigration officials to apply expedited removal to some non-citizens found far from the border.
The ruling, issued Tuesday by a panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, overturned a lower-court order that had blocked the Department of Homeland Security from enforcing the expanded policy.
Expedited removal has been used for decades to quickly deport certain migrants apprehended near the border. Under the Trump administration’s expanded approach, the process can apply to non-citizens encountered anywhere in the United States if they cannot show they have been continuously present in the country for at least two years.
The policy mirrors a similar effort from Trump’s earlier administration, which was later rescinded during the Biden administration.
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The latest legal fight began after immigrant rights group Make the Road New York challenged the expanded policy. The group argued that applying expedited removal nationwide could violate due process rights, especially for people living in the interior of the country who may have limited time or ability to prove how long they have been in the United States.
U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb previously blocked the policy, finding that it raised constitutional concerns. But the appeals court disagreed in a 2-1 decision.
Writing for the majority, Judge Justin Walker said the administration was allowed to expand expedited removal to the maximum extent permitted by Congress. He said migrants placed into the process receive notice and have an opportunity to object, including by showing they have lived continuously in the United States for two years.
Walker wrote that the system operates quickly and within practical limits, but that those features were contemplated by the law. Judge Neomi Rao joined much of the majority opinion. Both judges were appointed by Trump.
Judge Robert Wilkins, appointed by former President Barack Obama, dissented. He argued that the process is inadequate for people apprehended far from the border, especially if immigration officials do not first ask how long they have been living in the United States. Wilkins warned that the fast-track system may not provide enough protection for people who could have valid claims against removal.
DHS welcomed the ruling. James Percival, the department’s general counsel, said the decision supported the administration’s view that the law allows the policy to be applied as written.
Immigration advocates are expected to continue criticizing the policy, arguing that people could be deported quickly without meaningful access to legal help or time to gather documents. Many people who have lived in the United States for months or years may not carry proof of residence with them, which critics say could increase the risk of wrongful removals.
Supporters of the policy argue that expedited removal is an important tool for enforcing immigration law and reducing backlogs in the immigration court system. They say Congress gave DHS authority to use the process more broadly and that the administration is acting within that authority.
The ruling is likely to have major practical consequences. It gives immigration officers more power to quickly remove certain non-citizens across the country, not only those apprehended near the border. That could affect enforcement operations in workplaces, cities and communities far from traditional border areas.
The decision also comes as the Trump administration continues to pursue a broader immigration crackdown, including efforts to expand detention, speed up deportations and challenge sanctuary policies.
Why It Matters
The ruling significantly expands the government’s ability to deport certain non-citizens without full immigration court proceedings. Supporters say it will strengthen enforcement and reduce delays, while critics warn it could weaken due process protections for people living far from the border. The case also adds to the growing legal fight over how far the administration can go in reshaping immigration enforcement.
What Comes Next
DHS can move forward with the expanded expedited removal policy unless another court intervenes. Immigration advocacy groups may seek further review or pursue additional legal challenges. The policy’s impact will depend on how aggressively immigration officers apply it nationwide and how courts respond to future cases.
The ruling allows DHS to apply expedited removal more broadly to certain non-citizens who cannot show they have been in the U.S. for at least two years.
🚨 BREAKING — MASSIVE TRUMP WIN: A US Appeals Court has just allowed the Trump admin to EXPEDITE the removal of illegals from our country
The 2-1 ruling affirms illegals ANYWHERE in the US can be removed WITHOUT seeing an immigration judge if they’d been in the US for less than…
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) June 23, 2026
