Trump Administration Reopens Decades-Old Immigration Cases, Fueling Deportation Concerns Nationwide

Immigrants across the United States are once again facing deportation threats as the Trump administration reopens decades-old immigration cases. The controversial policy shift, which began quietly eight weeks ago, is now expanding rapidly and raising alarm among immigration lawyers and advocacy groups.

Among those affected are long-time U.S. residents Jesús Adan Rico and Maria Torres, whose deportation proceedings had been administratively closed for years. Their cases, along with thousands of others, are being reactivated under a directive from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Administrative Closure No Longer Offers Protection

Since the 1970s, immigration courts have used administrative closure to pause low-priority deportation cases, often allowing immigrants time to pursue alternative forms of relief such as marriage-based visas, asylum claims, or crime victim protections. These cases were not dismissed but shelved indefinitely unless reactivated due to changed circumstances.

Under the Trump administration's renewed enforcement strategy, DHS is now filing motions to 'recalendar' these dormant cases. The department insists that immigrants without green cards remain legally removable, even if they have pending applications or have lived and worked legally under programs such as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).

A DHS spokesperson claimed the initiative ensures all cases are 'heard by a judge' and blamed the previous administration for allowing what it called 'millions of illegal aliens' to remain in the U.S. under prosecutorial discretion.

Refilings Began in May and Continue to Surge

Immigration attorneys began receiving government motions to reopen cases in late May 2025. Lawyer David L. Wilson reported receiving 25 such motions in a single day, with similar waves arriving every few weeks. By June, other lawyers said they had received as many as 30 to 40 per batch.

Some of the affected cases date back to the mid-2000s. In several situations, either the client or their original attorney had died, while others had already been granted permanent residency or legal protection.

Major Hubs: California and Minnesota Courts Overwhelmed

The policy is being enforced nationwide, but immigration lawyers in cities including Los Angeles, San Diego, Van Nuys, Sherman Oaks and Minneapolis have reported the highest concentration of reopened cases.

Court systems in these areas are under growing strain. Lawyers say the flood of filings has created significant backlogs and delayed efforts to mount defences, potentially leading to unjust deportations.

Real Lives Disrupted

Jesús Adan Rico, 29, is a father and HVAC trainee based in California. His deportation case had been closed more than ten years ago. Despite holding valid DACA status, most recently renewed through to 2027, he learned in May that his case had been reactivated without warning.

Because his original attorney had died, Rico only found out through a phone call from the lawyer's daughter. He received no direct notification from DHS.

Maria Torres, a mother of two who arrived in the U.S. as a toddler, was similarly blindsided. After marrying a U.S. citizen, her case was closed in 2022 to allow her to pursue a green card. Just before her final visa interview, her lawyer informed her the government was trying to reopen her case.

Lawyers Sound Alarm Over "Copy-Paste" Filings

Immigration attorneys are increasingly concerned about the quality and legitimacy of the motions. Many appear to be generated from templates, lacking any meaningful case-by-case analysis.

According to California-based attorney Patricia Corrales, some motions have even targeted individuals who are deceased. One of her reopened cases involved a man who had qualified for a U visa after surviving a violent assault, but who died six months before DHS attempted to restart proceedings.

Legal System Under Pressure

Lawyers have just ten days to file opposition motions, creating a race against time. Many clients have not been in touch with their attorneys in years, and legal teams must often track down surviving family members or transfer files to new firms.

Meanwhile, immigration courts are buckling under the pressure. Processing delays are becoming routine, and some immigrants risk in absentia deportation if they miss court dates they were never notified about.

For thousands of people, cases long considered resolved are now dragging them back into legal limbo. Attorneys warn that due process is being eroded in favour of aggressive enforcement. With the scale of the impact still unfolding, the immigration system is entering a period of renewed uncertainty.