President Trump's Immigration Crackdown Intensifies with Mass Deportation Hearings
The Trump administration has intensified its immigration crackdown by utilizing mass deportation hearings, known as 'mega-masters', in immigration courts across the United States. These hearings have significantly increased the number of deportation orders, with over 100,000 cases closed in June alone. Many immigrants are receiving removal orders without being present in court, often due to not receiving notice of rescheduled hearings. In Chicago, a single judge handled up to 185 cases in one session, a stark increase from the typical 20 cases. This approach has led to a 120% increase in deportation orders in Chicago from March to June, with 78% of cases resulting in removal orders in absentia.