JURIST - Paper Chase: New immigration policy introduced, subjects more illegal aliens to "expedited removal"

The Department of Homeland Security has announced a new immigration policy that will subject more illegal immigrants to "expedited removal." According to a DHS statement:

When a person is apprehended and placed in expedited removal proceedings by a [Customs and Border Protection] Border Patrol agent, he or she generally will be detained and removed to his or her country of origin as soon as circumstances allow. They will not be released into the U.S. in most cases, and is not provided a hearing before an Immigration Judge unless he or she is determined to have a credible fear of return to his or her country.

Any person who expresses an intention to apply for asylum, or a fear of persecution or torture, or a fear of return to his or her home country will be referred to a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) asylum officer for a "credible fear" interview. If the person is found to have a credible fear, he or she will be removed from the expedited removal process and may seek protection in a removal hearing before an Immigration Judge.

Read the full DHS press release. Expedited removal, currently only used for people trying to enter the country illegally at airports and border checkpoints, will now apply to illegal aliens caught anywhere within 100 miles of the border who have been in the US for 14 days or less. The new policy officially takes effect Wednesday, but will not be implemented immediately. Wednesday's San Francisco Chronicle has more. Under Secretary Asa Hutchinson hosted a media roundtable on the immigration policy changes. Read the transcript. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services has background on immigration laws and regulations.