Despite plans to deport 200,000 undocumented individuals, the Biden administration’s failure to submit the necessary paperwork has led to the cancellation of their deportations. A report from the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC), an impartial research group at Syracuse University, indicates that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) neglected to file notices for court appearances, resulting in the dismissal of deportation cases for these individuals.
The TRAC report highlighted a complete absence of transparency regarding the shortcomings of DHS, particularly regarding the locations and reasons behind the failure to file appropriate paperwork. Moreover, the report emphasized the absence of “reliable information” regarding the current whereabouts of these undocumented immigrants, which could pose challenges in the future when DHS attempts to reinstate cases against them.
The Department of Homeland Security was expected to provide these undocumented individuals with NTAs, or notices to appear, which are typically given when someone is apprehended for illegal border crossing. Without an NTA, a case cannot progress.
In 2020, fewer than 7,000 deportation cases against undocumented immigrants were dismissed due to the absence of filed NTAs. However, by 2023, this figure had surged to nearly 70,000. As of March 2024, more than 10,000 deportation cases have been dropped due to NTA deficiencies. Prior to Biden assuming office, less than 1% of scheduled deportation cases were affected by NTA failures over a six-year period. However, during Biden’s initial three years as president, this rate escalated to 8.4%. Certain regions excel in NTA filings, while others are notorious for their frequent lapses. For instance, in both Houston and Miami, over 50% of deportation cases since 2021 have been dismissed due to NTA deficiencies.
The Department of Homeland Security declined to provide comment on the matter in response to a request.