U.S. to accelerate court cases of some migrant families facing deportation

The Biden administration on Friday unveiled an initiative to fast-track the immigration court proceedings of migrant families with children who recently crossed the southern border without permission from the U.S. government.

Under the new program, immigration judges in 10 cities are expected in general to issue decisions within 300 days of a family's first master calendar court hearing, barring some extensions to ensure families have access to due process and legal counsel, according to Justice Department guidance. A joint effort between the Departments of Homeland Security and Justice, which oversees the nation's immigration courts, the so-called "dedicated docket," is similar to programs the Obama and Trump administrations enacted to expedite the court cases of migrant families and unaccompanied children.