New REMOVE Act Mandates Immigration Court Proceedings Conclude in Just 15 Days for Convicted Migrants

The newly proposed Rapid Expulsion of Migrant Offenders who Violate and Evade (REMOVE) Act is all about speed when it comes to removing certain non-citizens from the country. Specifically, this bill targets immigrants who have been convicted of crimes that make them deportable under existing law. The core action is simple: once the government starts the removal process—which happens after a conviction or when a Notice to Appear is filed—the Attorney General must take "every action necessary" to ensure the entire immigration court proceeding is wrapped up within a 15-day window.

The 15-Day Clock: A Race Against Due Process

For anyone who has ever dealt with a court system, 15 days is less than the time it takes to schedule a first meeting with a lawyer, let alone prepare a complex legal defense. This strict time limit applies to the entire court case, from start to finish, for anyone convicted of a deportable crime. The bill requires the Attorney General to draft new rules and guidance to meet this deadline, and it explicitly states that this 15-day limit overrides any other existing timelines in immigration law, including those that might govern things like asylum claims. This means the speed of removal is prioritized above all else.

What This Means on the Ground

Think about what happens when you have a legal issue: you need time to find a lawyer, gather documents, secure witnesses, and understand the charges against you. For an immigrant facing removal, this is a life-altering situation. Under the REMOVE Act, that entire process is compressed into two weeks. For the immigrant, this effectively strips away the ability to mount a robust defense, which is a fundamental component of due process. Imagine trying to find a specialist immigration lawyer, translate documents, and gather evidence from a foreign country—all while incarcerated—within 15 days. It's practically impossible.

The Impact on the System and the Attorney General

While the stated benefit is efficiency—clearing out the backlog of cases involving convicted individuals—the cost is borne by the court system itself. Immigration judges and their staff would be forced to process highly complex cases, often involving asylum claims or other forms of relief, at an unprecedented, breakneck pace. This puts immense pressure on the judges to make snap decisions on life-altering matters. Furthermore, the bill grants the Attorney General broad authority to write new rules and guidance to achieve this rapid goal, essentially giving the executive branch the power to overhaul procedural rules to meet the 15-day mandate, potentially circumventing established safeguards in the rush for speed. The focus shifts entirely from accuracy and fairness to raw speed and removal statistics.