A federal appeals court on Tuesday allowed the Trump administration to resume carrying out speedy deportations of undocumented migrants throughout the United States, not just near the border.
A divided three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit threw out a lower court decision that temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s expanded use of expedited removal. The ruling was a big victory for the Republican administration, which views the expansion of so-called expedited removal as a key tool for carrying out its mass deportation policy.
Expedited removal — quick deportation without a chance to appear before a judge — has previously been applied to migrants arriving by sea or caught at or near the border shortly after crossing.
In January, Trump expanded its use to undocumented migrants all over the United States. Immigration agents began whisking migrants away from courthouses where they had gone for immigration proceedings and then removing them from the country within days.
“The Trump administration’s push for fast-track deportations will subject people to an unfair and error-prone system,” Anand Balakrishnan, senior staff attorney with the ACLU’s Immigrants’ Rights Project, said in a statement.
Balakrishnan represented plaintiffs in arguments before the appellate panel and said its ruling “undermines the fundamental principle that people receive due process when the government seeks to deport them.”
DC Circuit Judge Justin R. Walker, one of the judges on the panel, said the plaintiffs had not shown the expanded use of expedited removal violated due process rights. Immigrants received notice of removal proceedings and were given a chance to respond, he wrote in his opinion.
Walker and the second judge in the majority, Neomi Rao, were appointed by Trump. The third judge on the panel was appointed by President Barack Obama, a Democrat.
Walker said there was no requirement that the administration inform immigrants that they can avoid expedited removal if they can show they have been in the United States for more than two years.
"The constitutional requirement is notice of the action the government is taking and the grounds for it, plus an opportunity to respond," he wrote, adding that the plaintiffs' “contrary reasoning would require immigration officers to provide what amounts to legal advice.”
Walker and Rao vacated an order by U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb that put the expanded use of expedited removal on hold. Cobb, who was appointed by President Joe Biden, a Democrat, ruled in August that the administration had not developed procedures to ensure migrants were not wrongly deported under the expedited process.
The plaintiffs had put forward “substantial evidence" that the expedited removal process, on the contrary, carried a high risk of error when applied more broadly, Cobb said. The ruling cited examples of people who had lived in the U.S. for far longer than two years but were still ordered to be removed in expedited proceedings.
In his opinion, Walker acknowledged evidence of such errors, but said they resulted from “individual officers’ failure to follow the law — not defects in the written directives under review or the procedures they incorporate.”
The Trump administration has argued that its expansion of expedited removal includes protections to prevent arbitrary removal. In a court filing in October, Justice Department attorneys said Cobb's ruling was an “egregious error” that was depriving the administration of an “essential tool to combat the unprecedented surge of illegal immigration over the past few years” and efficiently deport potentially millions of people.
FILE - A massive 826,780-square-foot warehouse sits illuminated Feb. 12, 2026, in the El Paso suburb of Socorro, Texas, that was recently purchased by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for $122.8 million. (AP Photo/Morgan Lee, file)
The 2026 NBA draft is here, and the Washington Wizards are on the clock first.
Follow along for live updates, analysis and everything you need to know about all 30 first-round selections.
Here's the latest:
First-team Associated Press All-American and national scoring leader (25.5) as a sturdy-framed freshman. Pressured defenses by creating his own shot and getting to the line, where he led the country in made free throws (229) and attempts (296). Synergy rated him as “Excellent” as the ballhandler in pick-and-rolls (87th percentile, 27% of possessions) and post-ups (94th, 10.9%). Averaged 6.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists. Shot 51%. Scored BYU freshman-record 43 points against Utah. Must improve his 3-point shot (33.1%).
The Los Angeles Clippers brought in several prospects for predraft workouts. According to lead assistant Jeff Van Gundy, there wasn’t a dud in the bunch.
“Every guy that we’ve interviewed, I’d like them to marry my daughter. They’re that good a guy,” he said. “Not that I’m really like into arranged marriages, but if I was I’ve got a couple guys in mind.”
Van Gundy keeps a low profile with the team and never speaks to the media, but he spent about 13 minutes being interviewed by the team’s sideline reporter during a draft watch party on the plaza outside Intuit Dome.
Darryn Peterson looked every bit like a possible No. 1 overall NBA draft pick as a Kansas freshman — when he was on the court.
The 6-foot-5, 199-pound combo guard averaged 20.2 points but missed 11 games with a variety of injuries and illnesses. He headlines a position featuring freshman top-10 prospects in Arkansas’ Darius Acuff Jr., Illinois’ Keaton Wagler, Louisville’s Mikel Brown Jr. and Houston’s Kingston Flemings.
The scoring playmaker can attack off the dribble, in the halfcourt and in transition.
He shot 38.2% on 3-pointers, hitting six 3s in a win at Oklahoma State. He shot 82.6% at the foul line and got there often, logging six games with at least eight attempts. He also averaged 4.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver started his draft-day responsibilities by lunching with many of the top draft picks, along with some of their coaches and families on Tuesday.
Silver had met many of the players before, but said in a predraft interview on ESPN that he was impressive by the collective group.
“They’re exceptional in terms of their personalities,” Silver said. “I mean, they’re full of life, eager to join the league, a lot of style. ... They’re coming in with amazing attitude. They’re big fans. I’m crazily enthusiastic about them, I’ll leave it at that.”
Aday Mara was a massive presence in Michigan’s huge lineup that carried the Wolverines to their first NCAA championship since 1989. He’s now a lottery prospect in the NBA draft.
The 7-foot-3, 260-pound center is the headliner among the big men, a position group with a shorter line of top prospects compared to the guards and forwards. The list includes Washington’s Hannes Steinbach, Kentucky’s Jayden Quaintance and Houston’s Chris Cenac Jr.
The junior from Spain projects as a defensive force, leading all players measured at the combine in standing reach (9-9) and ranking second in wingspan (7-6).
Fans attending the NBA draft are getting to see a little more than usual from their seats at Barclays Center.
With the arena undergoing some renovations, the red carpet that was previously held in the arena’s atrium was moved to the draft floor. A number of players were wearing sunglasses, even though it’s raining outside in New York and dark in the arena.
Also, some of the player interview stops after they are picked were also moved from their previous behind-the-scenes locations. The “Good Morning America” set is on the floor, along with ones belonging to NBA TV and Chinese entertainment company Tencent.
Ending a marathon watch for the next great Miami get, the Heat landed Giannis Antetokounmpo — a two-time NBA MVP and 10-time All-Star — from the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night in exchange for a massive haul of players and draft picks.
The terms, according to a person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the move had yet to receive the required league approval: Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis are heading to Miami for Wisconsin native Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel’el Ware and Kasparas Jakucionis.
Milwaukee also gets the No. 13 selection that will be made in Tuesday night’s NBA draft, along with a first-round pick swap in 2030, first-round picks in 2031 and 2033 and a second-rounder in 2033, the person said.
Yaxel Lendeborg wrapped up his college career by winning a national title at Michigan under Dusty May. He made his pitch to keep playing for him before Tuesday night’s draft.
The Dallas Mavericks announced they had hired May away from the Wolverines on Monday, and they have the No. 9 overall pick in the first round. That aligns with the rough range where Lendeborg — an Associated Press first-team all-American — could hear his name called as a potential lottery prospect.
So Lendeborg was ready with his pitch on ESPN’s predraft special.
“I’m very happy for him,” Lendeborg said while sharing a laugh with fellow Michigan lottery prospect Aday Mara. “I’ll be way happier for him if he suddenly takes me at nine. So he should draft me. Draft me, please.”
Tobacco Road rivals Cameron Boozer of Duke and Caleb Wilson of North Carolina are part of the top overall tier of prospects in Tuesday’s first round of the NBA draft. If they both go in the top four as widely expected, that would be the first time in nearly four decades that the Blue Devils and Tar Heels each had a top-five pick in the same draft.
The last time came in 1989, when Duke forward Danny Ferry went No. 2 overall followed by UNC forward J.R. Reid at No. 5. The closest the schools had come since that time was in 2019, with Duke having forwards Zion Williamson going No. 1 and RJ Barrett going No. 3, while UNC had guard Coby White go No. 7.
Boozer became the fifth freshman named Associated Press men’s national player of the year, while Wilson was a second-team AP All-American in an injury-shortened season.
North Carolina freshman Caleb Wilson isn’t shy about selling his potential.
The 6-foot-9, 211-pound forward appeared on ESPN’s predraft Red Carpet Special, hours before the start of a draft where Wilson is widely projected to be a top-four selection. When asked what the NBA team that drafts him Tuesday night would be getting, Wilson said: “A game changer.”
Wilson is part of a top overall tier of prospects that includes BYU’s AJ Dybantsa, Kansas’ Darryn Peterson and Duke’s Cameron Boozer.
21. Detroit Pistons (via Timberwolves)
22. Philadelphia 76ers (via Rockets)
23. Atlanta Hawks (via Cavaliers)
24. New York Knicks
25. Los Angeles Lakers
26. Denver Nuggets
27. Boston Celtics
28. Brooklyn Nets (via Pistons)
29. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Spurs)
30. Dallas Mavericks (via Thunder)
The Dallas Mavericks’ overhaul following the Luka Doncic trade took another important step with Monday’s hiring of Michigan’s Dusty May as coach. Now they’ll have two first-round selections to add more pieces around NBA rookie of the year Cooper Flagg.
Dallas has the No. 9 and No. 30 overall picks in the first round, as well as a second-round selection for Wednesday.
In addition to Flagg, the Mavericks are set to get star guard Kyrie Irving back in his recovery from a serious knee injury, as well as having returning pieces like forwards P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford and center Dereck Lively II.
The No. 9 pick falls in range where numerous one-and-done guards are likely to land. That tier includes Arkansas’ Darius Acuff Jr., Houston’s Kingston Flemings, Louisville’s Mikel Brown Jr., Illinois’ Keaton Wagler and Arizona’s Brayden Burries. Freshman forward Nate Ament from Tennessee could also be an option.
The Dallas Mavericks officially announced Dusty May as their new coach just a few hours before entering the NBA draft with the ninth pick on Tuesday night.
May is making the jump to the NBA less than three months after leading Michigan to its first NCAA championship since 1989. He had a 64-13 record in two years with the Wolverines, including a 34-3 season that ended with a 69-63 victory over UConn in the national title game.
The Mavericks made their choice to replace Jason Kidd official on the same day they could select the next young player who would be part of building around 2025 No. 1 pick and reigning Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg, who turns 20 in December.
Dallas also has the final pick of the first round at No. 30 and the 48th choice in the second round, which will be held Wednesday.
11. Golden State Warriors
12. Oklahoma City Thunder
13. Milwaukee Bucks
14. Charlotte Hornets
15. Chicago Bulls (via Trail Blazers)
16. Memphis Grizzlies (via Suns)
17. Oklahoma City Thunder (via 76ers)
18. Charlotte Hornets (via Magic)
19. Toronto Raptors
20. San Antonio Spurs (via Hawks)
Michigan’s frontcourt powered the Wolverines to their first NCAA title since 1989. That trio could follow up by all landing in the lottery of Tuesday’s NBA draft.
Forwards Yaxel Lendeborg and Morez Johnson Jr. join big man Aday Mara in being set to go by roughly midway through the first round.
The 7-foot-3 Mara is massive and projects as a potential rim-protecting defensive force. Lendeborg was a first-team Associated Press All-American who improved his outside shot, while Johnson is a versatile player who could work as a forward or as a small-ball 5-man.
The Wolverines could produce three first-round picks on Tuesday night for the first time since the 1990 draft.
1. Washington Wizards
2. Utah Jazz
3. Memphis Grizzlies
4. Chicago Bulls
5. LA Clippers (via Pacers)
6. Brooklyn Nets
7. Sacramento Kings
8. Atlanta Hawks (via Pelicans)
9. Dallas Mavericks
10. Milwaukee Bucks
AJ Dybantsa has been a longtime favorite to be the No. 1 overall NBA draft pick. He’ll find out Tuesday whether he’s reached that status.
The 6-foot-9, 217-pound freshman lived up to all the hype at BYU, leading the country in scoring (25.5 points) while becoming a first-team Associated Press All-American. He pressured defenses with his ability to get off his own shot and by attacking to get to the foul line more than any other player in Division I.
The chief challenge to Dybantsa hearing his name called by the Washington Wizards is Kansas one-and-done guard Darryn Peterson.
The Washington Wizards have the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft on Tuesday night, with AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson and Cameron Boozer among the options after strong freshman seasons in college.
Washington’s NBA title drought is almost as long as the New York Knicks’ was, having last won in 1978 when the team was still known as the Bullets.
The Wizards could go for Dybantsa, a forward who led the nation in scoring at BYU; or Peterson, a guard with tons of talent but some question marks after missing 11 games at Kansas with injuries and illness; or Boozer, a forward who was college basketball’s player of the year at Duke.
Mikel Brown Jr. arrives for the first round of the NBA basketball draft Tuesday, June 23, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Darius Acuff Jr. arrives for the first round of the NBA basketball draft Tuesday, June 23, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Morez Johnson Jr., from left, Aday Mara and Yaxel Lendeborg arrive for the first round of the NBA basketball draft Tuesday, June 23, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Yaxel Lendeborg arrives for the first round of the NBA basketball draft Tuesday, June 23, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
AJ Dybantsa arrives for the first round of the NBA basketball draft Tuesday, June 23, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
