Is Trump’s New Strategy Clearing Backlog Of Immigration Cases Or Furthering Mass Deportations?

Getting a citizenship, asylum or a permanent residency case in front of a judge is a notoriously slow process. Now, the Trump administration is speeding it up with so-called “mega master” calendar hearings where dozens of people are asked to appear in immigration court on short notice. This means people have to scramble to find a lawyer, arrange childcare, and get the day off work, leaving many unable to attend their court hearing. But, if people fail to show up to court, it could mean an automatic deportation order.The administration says it's a way to reduce the number of cases backlogged but some advocates call it a tactic to further the administration’s goal of mass deportations.In the Loop sits down with an immigration reporter to get the latest and hears from an Illinois lawmaker calling for the end of the “mega master” court hearings.GUESTS: Adriana Cardona-Maguigad, WBEZ Immigration reporterU.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-8)For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.