"Dozens of asylum cases filed by Somali migrants in immigration courts were suddenly rescheduled and recategorized over the weekend, according to four lawyers interviewed by NPR. NPR has learned that lawyers across at least three states, Minnesota, Illinois and Nebraska, received notices starting Friday night that moved up hearings for their clients to later this month and next month. Some of these hearings were previously scheduled to take place by 2028; others hadn't yet been scheduled."
"NPR spoke with the four attorneys on the condition of anonymity out of fear of reprisals for their clients. They argue that this appears to be a coordinated effort between the Executive Office for Immigration Review and the Department of Homeland Security to reject Somali asylum applications without court hearings. Such a move would fast-track their deportation and limit due process."
"There are about 3,254 pending cases from Somali immigrants in immigration court, according to the latest data from the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse, and nearly half are out of Minnesota, home to the largest Somali community in the country. Lawyers who spoke with NPR said in all of their rescheduled cases, the clients were Somali citizens who entered the U.S. between 2018 and 2024."
Dozens of Somali asylum cases in immigration courts were rescheduled and recategorized over a weekend, with hearings moved up to later this month and next month. Notices affected more than 100 cases across Minnesota, Illinois and Nebraska and likely extend beyond those states. The rescheduled cases involve Somali citizens who entered the U.S. between 2018 and 2024, including some with Temporary Protected Status. The changes are presented as coordinated between the Executive Office for Immigration Review and the Department of Homeland Security and could lead to asylum rejections without court hearings, accelerating deportations and restricting due process. About 3,254 Somali cases are pending, nearly half in Minnesota. TPS for Somalis was terminated in November, set to expire March 17.
Read at www.npr.org
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