Trump Administration's Immigration Policies Under Scrutiny as Cases Reopened

More than 117,000 immigrants face potential deportation as the Trump administration has pushed to reopen previously closed immigration cases, according to an NBC News analysis. Most of these cases, which are being re-calendared, are concentrated in Arizona, California, Florida, and New York.

Notably, California has seen a staggering 14,000% increase in re-calendared cases from January to October of the Trump administration's second term compared to the same period in President Biden's term.

Immigration judges have historically used administrative closure to manage court dockets and backlogs, allowing time for immigrants to pursue relief options. However, the Trump administration has argued that this practice contributes to backlogs and represents an unlawful amnesty.

The Department of Justice stated that administrative closure allows individuals to remain in the country indefinitely without a clear resolution of their immigration status. Attorneys have reported challenges in locating clients affected by the re-opening, with some cases containing outdated or incorrect information.

Tricia McLaughlin from the Department of Homeland Security emphasized that the administration is following the law in resuming removal proceedings. Furthermore, the Trump administration aims to ramp up efforts to strip some naturalized citizens of their citizenship, prioritizing cases of those who allegedly obtained citizenship unlawfully.

This initiative could significantly escalate denaturalization efforts, which previously saw only around 120 cases filed since 2017. The administration's focus on denaturalization is part of a broader strategy to close loopholes in immigration and create barriers for individuals seeking to stay in the country.