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On Thursday, the administration of President Donald Trump requested the U.S. Supreme Court to lift restrictions on the deportation of illegal immigrants to third countries.
Last week, a federal appeals court largely upheld a lower court ruling that restricted the Trump administration's policy of deporting illegal immigrants to countries other than their home countries, known as 'third-country deportation'.
On Wednesday night, the appeals court overturned a decision to suspend the implementation of the initial ruling, which was in effect during the appeals court judges' deliberations.
The U.S. government is now urgently requesting the Supreme Court to lift restrictions on third-country deportations, indefinitely, describing these measures as 'a key tool for removing certain classes of aliens, including some of the most dangerous foreign criminals'.
Government lawyer John Sawyer said the lower court ruling 'has caused significant logistical problems' in deportation operations.
Trump pledged during his presidential campaign to expel millions of illegal immigrants from the United States and has taken several measures to expedite deportations since returning to the White House.
The Trump administration defended the third-country deportation policy as necessary, as the home countries of some targeted individuals sometimes refuse to accept them.
Congress has approved a U.S. policy of not deporting individuals to countries where their lives may be at risk or where they may be tortured.
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