A federal judge ruled that the government’s policy of third country removals is unlawful. This means the government can’t arbitrarily remove individuals to countries outside their country of origin. The ruling blocks a policy the government used to expedite removal operations.

Ruling Details

The government cannot legally initiate a third country’s removal without cause. This means the government must attempt to remove individuals to their country of origin before anywhere else. Additionally, immigration authorities must give meaningful notice to individuals subject to third country removals. The judge explained individuals subject to removal operations need time to petition for a third country removal on the basis they risk persecution or torture if they’re sent back to their home country. Implementation of the order was delayed by fifteen days, giving the government a chance to appeal.

Impact

The ruling serves as one of the largest refutations of the government’s increasingly strict immigration enforcement policies. According to the New York Times, the government removed multiple individuals from the U.S. to countries they have no ties with over the past year. Additionally, the government spent more than thirty-two million dollars to convince countries like Eswatini and Ghana to accept just three hundred individuals. The judge explained these costs far outweighed the benefits of expedited removals.

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