U.S. immigration authorities carried out a series of courthouse arrests this week, detaining dozens of migrants after their immigration hearings in cities including New York, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Seattle. The move marks a shift toward quicker deportations, particularly targeting individuals who have lived in the country for less than two years.
Some of those arrested had just had their immigration cases dismissed by judges, according to lawyers and family members. This legal status change enabled Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to place them in an expedited removal process, effectively bypassing the usual lengthier deportation procedures.
This crackdown aligns with President Donald Trump’s renewed push to ramp up deportations. A recent directive from ICE instructed officers to re-evaluate individuals previously released under expedited removal rules—especially if they hadn’t formally applied for asylum.
A Department of Homeland Security official stated the initiative targets migrants who were permitted entry under former President Joe Biden’s policies, asserting ICE is now enforcing the law more rigorously.
In Phoenix, multiple arrests occurred outside the immigration courthouse. One case involved Geovanni Francisco and his mother, legal entrants from Mexico who used the CBP One app to schedule their arrival in 2023. Despite their case being dismissed, ICE agents detained them immediately, leaving them little time to collect their belongings, according to a family member.