REMOVE Act
The REMOVE Act would tighten and speed up removal proceedings in immigration courts. It amends a section of the Immigration and Nationality Act to require the Attorney General (through the Executive Office for Immigration Review) to begin removal proceedings promptly after ICE files a Notice to Appear (NTA) and to complete all related immigration court proceedings within 15 days of those proceedings’ start. For aliens convicted of offenses making them deportable under §237(a), the bill further directs that removal proceedings begin expeditiously after conviction. The act also directs the Attorney General to take all necessary actions—including regulations and guidance—to enforce this 15-day timeline, and it explicitly prioritizes these timelines over other laws (including certain asylum-related time limits). In short, the bill seeks to dramatically accelerate removal cases and limit the time that immigration courts have to adjudicate them, with a focus on individuals who have criminal convictions making them deportable.
Key Points
- 1New short title: The bill is called the Rapid Expulsion of Migrant Offenders who Violate and Evade Act (REMOVE Act).
- 2Prompt initiation: The Attorney General must commence removal proceedings as soon as ICE files a Notice to Appear that has been served on the alien.
- 3Expedited for criminal cases: If the alien has a deportable offense under §237(a), removal proceedings must be started expeditiously after conviction.
- 415-day completion mandate: All immigration court proceedings for aliens described in the above paragraph must be completed no later than 15 days after commencement.
- 5Superseding existing laws: The 15-day requirement and related actions can override other laws and procedures, including asylum-related time limits (per §208(d)(5)(A)), with the Attorney General empowered to issue regulations and guidance to meet the deadline.