Expedited Removal Codification Act of 2023 This bill provides statutory authority for a July 23, 2019, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) notice that expanded the classes of non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law) who are subject to expedited removal (i.e., removal without further hearing or review). DHS published another notice on March 21, 2022, rescinding the July 2019 notice. Thus, this bill in effect restores the expanded version of expedited removal under the July 2019 notice. The July 2019 notice expanded expedited removal to cover certain inadmissible non-U.S. nationals who were apprehended in any part of the United States and who have been in the United States for less than two years. By contrast, with the March 2022 rescission, expedited removal is generally limited to certain inadmissible non-U.S. nationals apprehended near or at a border.
If enacted, HB218 will significantly change the landscape of immigration enforcement in the United States. By codifying the July 2019 DHS notice, the bill allows for the expedited removal of more individuals, which could lead to increased deportations. Previously, expedited removal was limited mainly to individuals apprehended near U.S. borders, meaning expanded authority under this bill might lead to broader applications of expedited removals in various locations across the country.
House Bill 218, known as the 'Expedited Removal Codification Act of 2023', seeks to provide statutory authority for a notice issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on July 23, 2019. This notice proposed an expansion of classes of non-U.S. nationals subjected to expedited removal from the United States. Specifically, the bill aims to reestablish guidelines that allow these removals without further hearings for certain individuals who have been in the U.S. for less than two years.
The bill has attracted notable points of contention regarding its implications for immigrants and their rights. Proponents argue that it fortifies national security and streamlines the removal process for those violating immigration laws. However, critics express concern that this could lead to unlawful removals, as individuals may not be afforded proper due process. Additionally, there are fears about the bill's long-term social effects on immigrant communities, which are now more vulnerable to immediate deportation efforts.