It was a rough day for the “see you in court” crowd but a pretty good one for the Trump administration.
On Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court handed the administration a 6-3 victory [1] in an immigration case involving a green card holder accused of criminal activity. The ruling affirmed that immigration officials have more broad authority when determining whether certain lawful permanent residents can be treated as applicants for admission (treated as if they’re seeking permission to enter the U.S. again) and subjected to removal proceedings.
If that wasn’t enough winning for one afternoon, a federal appeals court also ruled [2] that the administration can resume its expanded use of expedited removals. In plain English: illegal immigrants who cannot show they have been continuously present in the country for at least two years will face a much faster deportation process, not just near the border but nationwide. Yes, mass deportations can move ahead much more quickly now.
Supporters say the decisions restore tools Congress already gave immigration authorities to help speed up the removal of people who entered or remained in the country illegally. Critics, meanwhile, are warning about due process concerns and promising more legal challenges. Yes, the “critics” (Democrats) are far more concerned about the “rights” of foreigners in the country than taxpaying American citizens. No surprise there.
For now, however, the scoreboard for yesterday’s immigration wins reads: Trump administration 2, Democrats 0.