The U.S. Department of Homeland Security recently purchased a massive 826,780-square-foot warehouse in Socorro, Texas, for $122.8 million, illuminating it on Feb. 12, 2026. Meanwhile, a key legal battle unfolded as a federal appeals court ruled in favor of the Trump administration regarding immigration enforcement.
On Tuesday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit allowed the Trump administration to resume fast-track deportations across the United States. This decision overturned a lower court’s ruling that temporarily blocked the expanded use of expedited removal by President Donald Trump.
The panel’s decision marks a significant win for the administration, which views expedited removal as vital for executing its mass deportation strategy. Previously, this process applied only to migrants arriving by sea or near the border soon after crossing. In January, Trump extended its scope to undocumented migrants nationwide. Immigration agents began removing individuals from courthouses and deporting them within days.
Anand Balakrishnan, senior staff attorney with the ACLU’s Immigrants’ Rights Project, criticized the decision, suggesting it leads to an unfair, error-prone system. Balakrishnan, representing plaintiffs in the appeal, stated the ruling undermines due process principles during government deportation attempts.
DC Circuit Judge Justin R. Walker, part of the majority on the panel, noted the plaintiffs did not prove the expanded use of expedited removal violated due process rights. He emphasized that immigrants received notice of their removal proceedings and an opportunity to respond. Walker, along with Judge Neomi Rao, both appointed by Trump, formed the majority. The third judge on the panel had been appointed by President Barack Obama.
Walker further pointed out that there is no requirement for the administration to inform immigrants of the possibility to avoid expedited removal if they demonstrate over two years of residence in the U.S. He explained the constitutional requirements include notice of government actions, the grounds for it, and a chance to respond.
The decision vacated an order by U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb, blocking the expanded use of expedited removal. Cobb, appointed by President Joe Biden, had ruled in August that the administration lacked sufficient procedures to prevent wrongful deportations through expedited processes. She presented substantial evidence suggesting a high risk of error when applied broadly, citing examples of long-term U.S. residents ordered removed during expedited processes.
Walker acknowledged potential errors but attributed them to individual officers failing to adhere to the law, rather than defects in written directives or procedures. The Trump administration argued that its expanded expedited removal includes safeguards against arbitrary deportations. In October, Justice Department attorneys called Cobb’s ruling egregious, claiming it deprived the administration of a crucial tool to address the surge in illegal immigration efficiently.