Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in the United States are now authorized to arrest and deport undocumented immigrants nationwide under the Trump administration’s reinstated expedited removal policy. The rule, which took effect on January 21, 2025, has now been officially published in the Federal Register on January 24, 2025.
Under this policy, undocumented immigrants who have been in the U.S. for less than two years can face expedited removal proceedings, regardless of where they are arrested. This marks a significant shift from the previous Biden-era restrictions, which limited expedited deportation to individuals apprehended within 100 miles of the border who had been in the U.S. for less than two weeks.

The policy reinstates a 2019 Trump administration directive that was rescinded by the Biden administration in March 2022. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has confirmed that, effective immediately, non-citizens who cannot prove they have been in the U.S. for at least two years can be removed without a court hearing.
DHS has stated that the measure aims to enhance national security and public safety while reducing government costs associated with prolonged immigration proceedings. However, immigration advocates have raised concerns about due process violations, arguing that affected individuals may have limited opportunities to present their cases before an immigration judge.