Trump moves to expand 'fast-track' deportations

The Trump administration has expanded the process to swiftly deport undocumented immigrants who cannot prove they have lived in the US continuously for two years or more.

The "expedited removal" policy, which has traditionally been limited to undocumented migrants detained within 100 miles (160km) of the country's international borders, now allows officers to use it anywhere in the US.

Trump has promised mass deportations and declared a national emergency at the US-Mexico border that he says will allow the government to deploy troops and surge additional resources.

The decision is one of a flurry of immigration and border-related actions taken by Trump in the first week of his administration.

A notice posted on the website of the Federal Register says the policy took effect on the evening of 21 January.

"The effect of this change will be to enhance national security and public safety - while reducing government costs - by facilitating prompting immigration determinations," the notice reads.

It adds that the change will allow the Department of Homeland Security to address "the large volume of aliens" in the US illegally and ensure the "prompt removal...of those not entitled to enter, remain, or be provided relief or protection".

The expanded policy could be challenged in court.

Until now, "unauthorised" immigrants detained in the US were given a notice to appear in immigration court, where they could present their case for asylum.

Deportation proceedings typically couldn't begin until a judge issued a decision.

From behind his Oval Office desk on the first day of his administration on 20 January, Trump signed a flurry of executive orders and decrees aimed at cracking down on immigration.

The orders included tackling the definition of birthright citizenship and declaring illegal immigration at the border a national emergency.

In another significant departure from the Biden administration's immigration policies announced on Tuesday, the Department of Homeland Security has rescinded existing guidelines that prevent immigration officers from entering "sensitive" areas such as schools.

In a statement, DHS said that the guidelines "thwart" law enforcement.

"This action empowers the brave men and women in CBP [Customs and Border Protection] and ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] to enforce our immigration laws and catch criminal aliens - including murderers and rapists - who have illegally come into our country," a DHS spokesman said.

The spokesman added that "the Trump administration will not tie the hands" of law enforcement, and expects them to "use common sense."

A second directive stops the use of humanitarian parole, which helped migrants of certain categories enter the US. Individuals will now be looked at on a case-by-case basis.

An internal memo obtained by CBS, the BBC's US partner, also shows that the State Department has cancelled all refugee processing and travel into the US.

Officials were instructed to stop the refugee referral process overseas and to pause a Biden administration programme that allows private American citizens to sponsor refugees, according to the document.