As the Trump administration expands its immigration crackdown through faster deportation proceedings and tighter green card requirements, Representatives Joaquin Castro (D-TX) and Bill Keating (D-MA) are pushing for greater transparency on third-country deportation deals.
Last week, the Justice Department announced a new class of over 80 federal immigration judges as part of a greater push to expedite deportation cases and further its months-long crackdown on illegal immigration. Officials described this as the largest class of immigration judges in the department’s history.
Green card procedures were also tightened after a new federal policy was introduced on Friday, requiring some immigrants to leave the United States and complete the application process abroad.
Rep. Castro said his latest bill would expand the Case–Zablocki Act, which requires the executive branch to report certain international agreements to Congress, and strengthen State Department reporting requirements.
“This legislation requires the administration to provide transparency on its agreements with foreign countries so that Congress can better protect vulnerable people from reckless third-country deportation,” Rep. Castro said.
These foreign agreements require foreign countries to accept deportees who are not their own citizens. Rep. Castro said this is both “inhumane and senseless.”
“Children and families who came to the United States to seek asylum are having their rights violated and are being sent to countries they have never been and know no one,” he said.
Ultimately, Rep. Keating said he believes these agreements are doing more harm than good.
“The Trump administration’s reckless deportation of third-country nationals has been a stain on our country’s reputation,” Rep. Keating said. “As has been reported, numerous Americans including children have been caught up and deported as part of this effort.”
Rep. Keating said it is essential for Congress to be able to hold the administration and immigration enforcement officials accountable, while also ensuring these agreements are reported to the public.
“This legislation would require the Department of State to transmit all third-country national agreements to Congress so the Trump administration can no longer hide these actions behind bureaucratic walls and inflammatory rhetoric,” he said.
