Federal Court Blocks Expanded Rapid Deportations: What This Means for Your Immigration Case in 2025

On November 23, 2025, a federal appeals court handed immigrants a significant—but possibly temporary—victory. If you’re on the verge of deportation, the duration of this window of opportunity may be limited.

That day, Circuit Judges Patricia Millett and J. Michelle Childs issued a ruling blocking the Trump administration’s attempt to dramatically expand “expedited removal”—a process that allows the government to deport someone without ever providing a hearing before an immigration judge. The expansion would have allowed rapid deportations anywhere in the country for individuals who had been in the U.S. for less than two years.

This ruling is relevant for several reasons. It affects anyone who entered the United States within the last two years. It may give you the right to a hearing that you didn’t previously have. And most importantly, it creates a temporary window of protection—one that could close quickly as the administration appeals the decision.

The ruling is not final. It can be reversed in weeks or months. That is why the deportation defense attorneys at Law Group International are urging impacted individuals and families to take immediate action.

In this article, we’ll clarify:

• What the appeals court actually ruled
• Who is protected under this decision
• Who is not covered
• What steps you must take right now
• How long this legal window might stay open

If you or a family member arrived in the U.S. within the last two years—or if you are currently facing expedited removal—read this carefully. Then contact a deportation defense attorney immediately before this opportunity disappears.

The November 2025 Ruling Explained

On November 23, 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals issued a decision that temporarily blocks the Trump administration’s attempt to dramatically expand the use of expedited removal. The ruling—authored by Circuit Judges Patricia Millett and J. Michelle Childs—found that the administration is “unlikely to succeed” in proving that its expanded deportation procedures comply with due process requirements under the U.S. Constitution.

In plain terms, the court determined that the government’s plan to allow rapid deportations anywhere in the country for anyone who had been in the U.S. for less than two years likely violated fundamental constitutional protections. Because of that, the judges halted the policy while the full case moves forward.

The immediate effect is a nationwide freeze on the expansion, restoring a narrower version of expedited removal that has been in place for years. The court also emphasized that allowing the expansion to take effect before determining its legality could cause irreparable harm, including wrongful deportations and the loss of access to immigration hearings.

FROM THE COURT RULING: “Circuit Judges Patricia Millett and J. Michelle Childs said the administration was unlikely to succeed in showing its systems and procedures satisfy due process requirements.” — Reuters, November 23, 2025

This ruling means that the government cannot currently deport individuals under the expanded rules without first giving them an opportunity to appear before an immigration judge.

What is Expedited Removal?

Expedited removal is a fast-track deportation process that allows the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to deport certain individuals without a hearing before an immigration judge. An immigration officer, usually from ICE or CBP, can issue a removal order immediately, bypassing the normal immigration court process. Because there is no hearing, individuals subject to expedited removal do not have the opportunity to present evidence, seek legal representation before a judge, or appeal the decision. Deportations under this process can occur rapidly, sometimes within days or even hours.

Under the original version of expedited removal, the policy was limited to individuals who were encountered within 100 miles of the border, who had been in the United States for less than 14 days, and who could not show proof of lawful entry. This meant that recent arrivals near the border were the primary target of the policy.

The Trump administration attempted to expand this authority dramatically so that expedited removal could apply to anyone who had been in the U.S. for less than two years, regardless of where they were apprehended. Under the expansion, an immigrant living hundreds or even thousands of miles from a border—working, attending school, or living with family—could still be deported without a hearing based solely on an officer’s determination of how long they had been in the country.

The appeals court ruling temporarily blocks this expansion, keeping the original, narrower version of expedited removal in place. However, because the ruling is preliminary and subject to appeal, its protections may not last long.

Aspect	Original Policy	Trump’s Blocked Expansion
Geographic scope	Within 100 miles of the border	Entire United States
Time in U.S.	Less than 14 years	Less than 2 years
Right to a hearing	No	No
Current status	Still in effect	Blocked by court

Table: Original Policy vs. Blocked Expansion

Who Is Protected by This Ruling?

People Who Benefit from This Decision

This ruling provides temporary yet significant protection to certain individuals who faced deportation under the expanded expedited removal policy. You may benefit from this ruling if:

• You have been in the United States for more than 14 days but less than two years.
• You were apprehended more than 100 miles from the border.
• You were facing expedited removal under the expanded policy rather than the original, narrower version.
• You haven’t been deported or signed a voluntary departure agreement, you may be protected. 

These criteria are important because the ruling directly affects who is entitled to additional due process and who must now be provided access to the immigration court system.

For individuals who fall into these categories, the ruling may grant new rights and opportunities. You may now have the right to a hearing before an immigration judge—something the expanded policy would have denied. This provides you valuable time to gather evidence, secure legal representation, and prepare a stronger case. You may also become eligible for forms of relief such as asylum, withholding of removal, or cancellation of removal, all of which require a formal hearing. Most importantly, you should not be deported immediately without due process protections. 

The deportation defense team at Law Group International can evaluate your specific circumstances and determine how this ruling applies to you.

Who Is NOT Protected by This Ruling

This ruling does not apply to everyone. 

• If you were apprehended within 100 miles of the border and have been in the United States for less than 14 days, the original expedited removal policy still applies to you. 
• Individuals with prior final orders of deportation remain unprotected by this decision, as the ruling does not reopen or reverse past removals. 
• Those who have signed voluntary departure agreements may have waived certain rights, limiting the impact of the ruling in their cases. 
• The ruling does not apply to people who have been in the United States for more than two years because expedited removal—expanded or original—does not apply to them. 
• Finally, this decision may not affect the placement of individuals with certain criminal histories in other removal processes.

The ruling may not directly protect you, but you may still have legal options. It is important to speak with an immigration attorney to fully understand your rights.

The Critical Warning: This May Be Temporary

URGENT: THIS WINDOW MAY CLOSE

This ruling is preliminary and not a final decision. The Trump administration will appeal, and the case may be taken up by the full appeals court in an en banc review or even by the Supreme Court. A conflicting decision could also come from another federal court. Because of these possibilities, the protections offered by this ruling could be reversed in a matter of weeks or months.

If you believe you qualify for relief under this ruling, you must act now. Every day you wait brings you closer to the possibility that this temporary window of protection may close. Contact the deportation defense attorneys at Law Group International immediately to determine your options and protect your rights.

What to Do If You’re Affected

Immediate Actions to Take This Week

If you believe this ruling may apply to you, it is critical to take action this week, while protections remain in place. The first step is to determine whether you qualify. Ask yourself the following questions: 

• Have you been in the United States for more than 14 days but less than two years? 
• Were you apprehended—or could you be apprehended—in an area more than 100 miles from the border? 
• Were you facing expedited removal under the expanded policy, rather than the original one? 
• And importantly, have you avoided signing a voluntary departure agreement? 

If you answered “yes” to these questions, this ruling may offer you valuable protections and rights.

Your next step is to gather evidence proving how long you have been in the United States. This documentation is crucial and has the potential to significantly impact your case. Start collecting:

• dated rent receipts or lease agreements, 
• utility bills with your name, 
• pay stubs, employment records, 
• bank statements that show U.S.-based transactions, 
• school records for yourself or your children, 
• medical visit records, 
• church or community organization documentation, 
• photographs with metadata, and 
• affidavits from people who can verify your date of arrival. 

Your length of stay is one of the most important factors in determining if this ruling applies to you.

Once you have begun collecting evidence, you must consult a deportation defense attorney immediately. The attorneys Khalid and Daniela at Law Group International are offering expedited consultations specifically for individuals affected by this ruling. We can assess whether the ruling applies to your situation, identify all possible forms of relief, begin preparing your case, and file any necessary paperwork before the legal window closes. Do not delay—your ability to stay in the United States may depend on how quickly you act.

Finally, please refrain from signing anything presented to you by ICE or immigration officers. Do not sign voluntary departure agreements, stipulated removal orders, or any documents waiving your right to a hearing. This ruling may have granted you rights you did not previously have. Protect them.

Legal Options That May Now Be Available to You

If this ruling provides you with access to an immigration court hearing, several forms of relief may now become available. 

• Asylum may be an option if you fear persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. Asylum generally must be filed within one year of arrival, though exceptions exist. 
• Another option is withholding of removal, which requires a higher burden of proof—showing it is “more likely than not” that you would face persecution—but has no filing deadline.
• You may also qualify for cancellation of removal if you have lived in the United States continuously for more than ten years and can demonstrate “exceptional and extremely unusual hardship” to a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident family member. 
• For those with qualifying family relationships, adjustment of status may be possible, allowing you to pursue lawful permanent residence. 
• In some cases, strategic voluntary departure may be preferable to a deportation order, but this decision must be made with an attorney’s guidance.

The deportation defense team at Law Group International can thoroughly evaluate which of these options apply to your case and build a strategy to protect your future.

Court Ruling FAQ

How long will this ruling last?

Currently, no one can say for sure. This is a preliminary ruling, issued while the full case works its way through the courts. The Trump administration has already announced its intention to appeal, which means the case could be reviewed by the full appeals court (en banc) or potentially fast-tracked to the Supreme Court. In similar immigration cases, temporary protections like the one at issue have lasted anywhere from a few weeks to several months, and sometimes longer if additional courts continue to block the policy. However, the swift reversal of the ruling remains a possibility. This uncertainty is precisely why affected individuals must act now rather than waiting for a final outcome.

I was already deported under expedited removal. Can I come back?

This ruling does not automatically reverse past deportations. Once a removal has been executed, the legal pathway back into the United States becomes extremely limited. However, if you were deported under the expanded expedited removal policy—meaning you had been in the U.S. between 14 days and 2 years, and you were apprehended outside the 100-mile border zone—there may be grounds to challenge the legality of your removal. These cases are highly complex, and outcomes depend on specific facts such as timelines, evidence, and procedural errors. Anyone in this situation should consult immediately with a deportation defense attorney at Law Group International to evaluate potential options.

I have a deportation hearing scheduled. Does this affect me?

Your scheduled hearing remains unchanged; you still have the right to a judge and a full hearing. However, the decision is still important because it signals that federal courts are taking a serious look at the administration’s rapid-deportation practices and identifying due process problems. This judicial skepticism may strengthen broader due process arguments in your case. Discuss these implications directly with your attorney so they can tailor your defense strategy accordingly.

Can ICE still arrest me?

Yes. This ruling does not stop ICE from arresting or detaining people. It only limits the government’s ability to deport certain individuals without a hearing. You can still be detained and placed in removal proceedings. However, if you fall under the protected category established by this ruling, you may now have the right to present your case before an immigration judge instead of being deported immediately through expedited removal. Regardless of your situation, it is critical to know your rights during any encounter with ICE.

What if I’ve been in the U.S. for more than two years?

If you have been in the United States for more than two years, expedited removal—whether under the original or expanded policy—does not apply to you. You are already entitled to a formal hearing before an immigration judge. While this ruling does not directly affect your legal status, it is part of a larger pattern of judicial pushback against aggressive deportation policies. This broader legal climate may indirectly benefit individuals in removal proceedings. If you are facing deportation, you should still consult an experienced attorney to understand your full range of options.

Act Now While This Window Is Open

The federal appeals court’s decision on November 23, 2025, to block the expanded expedited removal policy represents a meaningful—but temporary—protection for thousands of immigrants. For people who have been in the United States between 14 days and two years, this ruling may prevent deportation without a hearing and provide access to due process that the expanded policy would have denied. However, this protection is not permanent. The ruling will be appealed, and a higher court could reverse it at any time. That is why it is critical to take action immediately.

You should remember the key points: 

• A federal court has blocked the expanded expedited removal policy. 
• The ruling safeguards certain individuals from deportation without a hearing.
• The protection is temporary. 
• You may now have the right to appear before an immigration judge and pursue relief. 
• You need to take immediate action, as this brief window of opportunity could end abruptly. 
• Under no circumstances should you sign any immigration documents without consulting an experienced deportation defense attorney.

This moment may determine the future of your case and your ability to remain in the United States.

THIS WINDOW WILL NOT STAY OPEN FOREVER

The court has given you an opportunity. What you do with it is up to you.

If you or a family member has been in the U.S. between 14 days and two years, was facing deportation without a hearing, and wants to understand your legal options before this ruling is potentially reversed, you need to act NOW.

Law Group International’s deportation defense attorneys, Khalid and Daniela, are offering EXPEDITED CONSULTATIONS for individuals affected by this ruling.

Do not wait for the Supreme Court to take this away. Every day counts. Call now and mention “Expedited Removal Ruling” for priority scheduling.