Why El Pasoans And Protesters Are Speaking Out Against Trump-Era Deportations

As protests grow in El Paso and across the country, many are asking: why now? What’s changed? And why are critics of the current immigration system drawing sharp distinctions between the Trump administration’s deportation policies and those under previous presidents, including Barack Obama?

The core concern raised by advocates isn’t about the number of deportations. It’s about how they’re happening. Find more information and videos at KFOX.

Migrants in El Paso Deported Without Due Process, Advocates Say

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Under U.S. law, every person on American soil, regardless of citizenship status, is entitled to due process. That means a fair hearing, legal representation if possible, and the opportunity to present evidence before the government takes punitive action, including deportation.

However, immigration advocates and court watchers in El Paso say those constitutional protections are being ignored.

Images and videos reportedly taken inside the federal building in downtown El Paso show masked agents detaining migrants immediately after court hearings. According to multiple anonymous court observers, many migrants are deported without legal counsel and without a meaningful opportunity to make their case.

"Every morning there are people across the street waiting all day, hoping their loved one will come out, not even realizing they've already been put on a deportation bus out back," said Angel Ortiz, a local court monitor.

Ortiz described seeing up to 100 people removed in a single day. In some court sessions, as many as 30 to 35 people are processed at once. Families and protesters outside have recorded videos of white vans transporting migrants away before any final rulings are publicly announced.

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Douglas Winter, owner of Nuevas Raices, formerly Aaron & Georges Film Cafe, has been in the courtrooms trying to help migrants who are being secretly deported immediately after their cases are dismissed. Documenting that these people are incapable of informing their families of what is happening to them.

Is Obama’s Deportation Record the Same as Trump’s?

Supporters of current deportation policies often point to former President Barack Obama’s record. It is true that Obama presided over a large number of deportations, more than any president before him. However, immigration scholars and legal experts say there are critical differences in how those deportations were carried out.

Obama's administration prioritized individuals with criminal records and those attempting to cross the border unlawfully without using official asylum or immigration channels. The system under Obama also included legal hearings and, in most cases, access to attorneys or legal resources. His administration introduced programs aimed at helping certain groups, such as Dreamers and vulnerable asylum seekers, stay in the U.S. legally.

Critics argue that under Trump’s policies, even people actively engaged in legal immigration proceedings are being detained and deported without fair hearings. That includes asylum seekers who followed all the rules but were removed before presenting their case in full. Without due process, observers argue, accusations about gang affiliations or criminal behavior go unproven and unchallenged.

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Why So Few Migrants Are Granted Asylum in the U.S.

Former Border Patrol Chief Victor Manjarrez has stated that fewer than 5 percent of asylum applications are approved due to the strict standards set by U.S. law. He said many migrants are economic refugees who are not fleeing targeted persecution and often lack the documentation needed to meet the legal threshold for asylum.

“You have to have proof. Emails, documents, video. That is usually not the case,” Manjarrez explained.

Still, legal observers note that denying people the chance to present even minimal evidence before deportation raises serious constitutional concerns. The issue, they say, is not just about how many people are deported. It’s about whether they had the legal right to defend themselves before it happened.