Miami immigration court's mega-hearings force migrants to endure long outdoor waits

Miami's immigration court has replaced virtual hearings with massive in-person sessions, scheduling hundreds of cases at once. As a result, crowds of migrants line the streets, parking areas and even beneath the Metromover, sometimes waiting two hours before being allowed inside a courtroom that holds only about 20 people. Lawyers note that the previous system allowed brief waits, but the new format forces early arrival to avoid missing a hearing, which can result in an automatic deportation order.

The change coincides with a nationwide surge in in-absentia removal orders, with Miami's numbers more than doubling in recent months. Critics argue the expedited process threatens due-process protections, while officials say it aims to reduce a backlog of over 3.1 million immigration cases. The situation leaves vulnerable families, like a Salvadoran mother and her fever-stricken son, exposed to harsh conditions while awaiting their fate.