Being arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) authorities is a terrifying and heart-wrenching experience for the arrested person and his or her family members. The worst part about this process may not be the arrest itself, but the fact that the person will usually have to wait for long periods of time while separated from family members before he or she knows what’s going to happen.
Those who have been arrested by ICE agents could be processed as an expedited removal candidate. Those who are subjected to expedited removal are usually people who have overstayed their visas or those who illegally entered the United States. If someone crossed a border unlawfully, for example, he or she could be processed through expedited removal.
At this time, expedited removal is also limited to individuals arrested inside 100 miles of the U.S. border and who have been in the country for 14 days or less. However, the U.S. Government is currently debating whether or not it should expand the expedited removal process to apply to people arrested in all areas of the country and for those who have been in the U.S. for two years or less.
Those people who have been subjected to expedited removal cannot appeal their deportation orders to a judge. However, in some circumstances, they may be able to make a case that the expedited deportation was inappropriately issued and ask for it to be reviewed and dismissed. If you run the risk of being deported through expedited removal, make sure that you fully understand your legal rights and options.
