A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from expanding fast-track deportations across the United States. The ruling, issued on Friday by U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb, raises concerns about due process for migrants. Judge Cobb, appointed by former President Joe Biden, stated that prioritizing speed in deportation processes could lead to wrongful removals.

The Trump administration aimed to broaden the expedited removal process, which typically applies to migrants apprehended within 14 days of entering the country and within 100 miles of a U.S. land border. The proposed expansion would have allowed officials to deport migrants anywhere in the country who had been living illegally for less than two years.

In her 48-page opinion, Cobb emphasized that while the expedited removal statute itself is constitutional, the government must ensure due process for individuals living in the interior of the country who have not previously been subject to expedited removal. "The procedures currently in place fall short," she wrote.

Cobb's ruling is a significant setback for the Trump administration's mass deportation efforts, which have included plans to arrest asylum-seekers at immigration courthouses. The judge noted that the advocates challenging the expansion had made a compelling case that it violated the due process rights of affected individuals.

The expedited removal process allows federal immigration officials to deport certain migrants without a court hearing unless they claim asylum and pass an interview with a U.S. asylum officer. Before the proposed changes, this process was limited to unauthorized migrants caught near the border and who had been in the U.S. for less than two weeks.

Cobb's ruling also indefinitely postponed a January directive that sought to implement the expanded expedited removal policy. The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the ruling.

The judge's decision comes as the Trump administration continues to face legal challenges over its immigration policies. Cobb is also set to rule on a separate lawsuit involving Trump and Federal Reserve Board Governor Lisa Cook, whom the president is attempting to dismiss over allegations of mortgage fraud.

A Department of Homeland Security official criticized the ruling, stating, "This activist judge’s ruling ignores the President’s clear authorities under both Article II of the Constitution and the plain language of federal law." The official added that the previous administration had facilitated an "invasion" at the southern border and that the current administration is exercising its authority under federal law.