Former immigration enforcement chiefs say President Trump's plan to allow federal agents to quickly deport suspected undocumented immigrants without appearing before a judge may be illegal, USA Today is reporting.
The "expedited removals" have been used over the last 20 years, but they have been limited to people caught within 100 miles of the U.S.-Mexican border and who are suspected of entering the country within the previous two weeks, according to the newspaper.
Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly ordered the program expanded nationwide. It will now apply to undocumented immigrants throughout the country who came into the U.S. in the last two years.
"The Supreme Court has consistently held that even undocumented immigrants are entitled to due process," said John Sandweg, who was in charge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under President Obama.
He warned it threatens the constitutional rights of undocumented immigrants who may get deported by mistake, USA Today said.
"The administration is really testing the parameters of what's acceptable, said Julie Myers Wood, who headed ICE under President George W. Bush. "There is some litigation risk there."
And the Los Angeles Times noted: "With the new guidelines, Trump took a significant step close to realizing his and top aides' vision for reducing the immigrant population in the U.S."
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