Judges have warned illegal migrants that failure to show up at their immigration hearings could force the courts to approve requests for their deportations because they failed to challenge the government’s request.
The United States court system has noted a recent increase in “no-shows” in immigration cases nationwide after fears spread that showing up to court could result in the migrant’s immediate arrest and deportation, according to an NPR report.
Judges have warned illegal migrants that failure to show up at their immigration hearings could force the courts to approve requests for their deportations because they failed to challenge the government’s request.
Data from the Justice Department’s Executive Office for Immigration Review found that approval for removal orders in absentia nationwide reached over 310,000 in fiscal year 2025 alone as of November.
Where it began:
The number of removal orders that were granted without the migrant present began increasing consistently in 2022, when over 62,000 removal orders were approved. There were 8,541 orders approved in 2021 but nearly 88,000 in 2020.
The increase in no-shows started in the summer after Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers began showing up and arresting migrants at federal and immigration courthouses, including at immigration hearings.
Experts told NPR that fear of these ICE agents and subsequent deportations was likely a major motivator behind the increase in no-shows.
“What happened is that the word spread that if you go to court, you could get picked up from ICE,” Ruby Powers, an immigration lawyer from Texas who has cases nationwide, said. “Those instances weren’t consistent around the country, but at least the word had spread, the fear had spread. And so individuals were really hesitant to go into court.”
You sound surprised!!!