The Steady Drip

Appeals Court Says Federal Government Can Fast-Track Deportations (Connecting the Dots: Judge Jia M. Cobb & The Carnegie/Soros Network)

The Department of Homeland Security acted properly when it quickened deportations ‘to the maximum extent allowed by law,’ a majority said.

The Epoch Times

Zachary Stieber

Senior Reporter

6/23/2026|Updated: 6/23/2026

A person is detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents near a hardware store in New Orleans on Dec. 3, 2025. Adam Gray/AFP via Getty Images

https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/appeals-court-says-federal-government-can-fast-track-deportations-6052088

President Donald Trump’s administration can fast-track deportations across the nation, a split federal appeals court panel ruled on June 23.

The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) January 2025 order that authorized sped-up removal for many illegal immigrants fell within the authority granted to immigration officials by Congress, a majority of a panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit concluded.

The order cleared immigration personnel to speed up deportations for illegal aliens who entered the country without valid documentation or through fraud, had not been paroled, or had not proven that they were present in the United States for at least two years preceding a determination that they must be deported.

Through the order, DHS “exercised its discretion to apply its expedited removal authority to the maximum extent allowed by law,” said Circuit Judge Justin Walker, writing for the majority.

The appeals court overturned a 2025 ruling from Jia Cobb, a federal judge in Washington. Cobb had ruled that the expansion of expedited removal violated the constitutional rights of illegal immigrants and would lead to the erroneous deportation of immigrants who should not be removed from the country.

“In defending this skimpy process, the Government makes a truly startling argument: that those who entered the country illegally are entitled to no process under the Fifth Amendment, but instead must accept whatever grace Congress affords them,” Cobb wrote at the time. “Were that right, not only noncitizens, but everyone would be at risk. The Government could accuse you of entering unlawfully, relegate you to a bare-bones proceeding where it would ‘prove’ your unlawful entry, and then immediately remove you.”

Walker said the appeals court was overturning Cobb’s preliminary injunction because the plaintiff in the case, an organization called Make the Road New York, has failed to establish it is likely to succeed in its legal challenge.

Make the Road said that under the procedure that expanded quick deportations, its members were not provided notice or an opportunity to be heard.

Walker stated that the government did issue notice of the change, and under the law even people subject to the sped-up deportations have an opportunity to respond.

Make the Road also argued that DHS wrongly left out on relevant forms that immigrants could avoid expedited removal if they proved two years of continuous presence, but there is no authority requiring that persons subject to the law be instructed about that exception, according to Walker.

“Here, aliens are informed that DHS is placing them in expedited removal. And they may contest their amenability to that process, including by asserting continuous presence,” he said. “The Fifth Amendment does not require the government to provide advance legal instruction, to reallocate statutory burdens, or to guarantee optimal conditions for evidence-gathering before the threshold determination Congress authorized.”

Circuit Judge Neomi Rao concurred with Walker.

Circuit Judge Robert Wilkins said in a partial dissent that courts have found the administration deported multiple noncitizens who had been in the country for more than two years.

“DHS has not contested this factual finding,” he said. “This begs the question of how and why the agency is removing people from the country in a manner contrary to the federal statute. The answer to this question is pretty simple: DHS is using procedures that do not allow a meaningful opportunity for noncitizens to demonstrate that they have been continuously present in the United States for two years.”

Make the Road New York did not return a request for comment by time of publication.

James Percival, the DHS general counsel, said in a statement that the court “vindicated our decision to apply the law as written.”

Vice President Kamala Harris to Deliver Keynote Address During the 56th National Convention

Updated on December 7, 2023

by Kelli James

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 13, 2023

https://www.deltasigmatheta.org/vice-president-kamala-harris-to-deliver-keynote-address-during-the-56th-national-convention/index.html

WASHINGTON – Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated announced today that Vice President Kamala Harris will serve as keynote speaker for the Social Action Luncheon during its 56th National Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana. Delta Sigma Theta is one of the largest historically Black sororities, and more than 20,000 members will come together in person and virtually for the biennial convention on July 18 – July 23. This year’s hybrid conference is the first time the Sorority has met as a national body in Indianapolis.

Is Letitia James a member of a Sorority?

https://ab-tc.com/is-letitia-james-a-member-of-a-sorority/

Yes, she is part of the New York Alumnae Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. They congratulated her on their facebook page after she was sworn in with the caption;

Delta Sigma Theta statement draws the attention of Donald Trump

Story by Kiya Wimbush-Robinson • 9mo •

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/delta-sigma-theta-statement-draws-the-attention-of-donald-trump/ar-AA1LKafw

The post Delta Sigma Theta statement draws the attention of Donald Trump appeared first on ClutchPoints.

In an unprecedented legal battle, Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook has sued the Trump administration after President Donald Trump’s attempt to fire her. The action has drawn a strong rebuke from Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., of which Cook is a member. The sorority’s International President, Cheryl W. Turner, released an official statement on behalf of the organization in support of Governor Cook. On his social media platform, Truth Social, the President responded to the sorority’s support, stating, “This is a total Conflict of Interest. The Judge must RECUSE, IMMEDIATELY!!!”

Photo of the Day: Obama Meets With Delta Sigma Theta

President Obama hosted members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated in the Oval Office to commemorate the organization’s centennial anniversary and their 51st convention.

https://www.bet.com/article/m1eu64/photo-of-the-day-obama-meets-with-delta-sigma-theta

Delta Sigma Theta

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delta_Sigma_Theta

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (ΔΣΘ) is a historically African American sorority. The organization was founded by college-educated women dedicated to public service with an emphasis on programs that assist the African American community. Delta Sigma Theta was founded on January 13, 1913 by twenty-two women at Howard University in Washington, D.C.

Jia Cobb Age 45 Net Worth Biography Career Highlights

https://mabumbe.com/people/jia-cobb-age-45-net-worth-biography-career-highlights/

Major Achievements Confirmed by U.S. Senate as U.S. District Judge (2021); fourth Black woman on D.C. District Court; adjunct professor at American University Washington College of Law

Other Relevant Details Member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority; taught trial advocacy at Harvard Law School as visiting faculty

Jia M. Cobb

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jia_M._Cobb

Jia Michelle Cobb (born 1980)[1] is an American attorney serving as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. She previously worked at the law firm Relman Colfax PLLC, joining in 2012 and as a partner from 2019 to 2021.

Cobb was born in Springfield, Ohio. After graduating from Mercy High School in Farmington Hills, Michigan,^[3] she attended Northwestern University, graduating in 2002 with a Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude. She then attended Harvard Law School, where she was a coordinating editor of the Harvard Law Review. She graduated in 2005 with a Juris Doctor, cum laude.

Connecting the Dots:

Judge Jia M. Cobb was appointed by Joe Biden, received her BA from Northwestern University, her JD from Harvard University, attended Harvard Law School, a coordinating editor of the Harvard Law Review, a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority and an adjunct professor at the American University.

Judge April Perry received her BS & JD from Northwestern University and is serving as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

Gary Scott Feinerman is a judge for the U.S. District Court - Northern District of Illinois and was a partner at Sidley Austin LLP.

Barack Obama was an intern at Sidley Austin LLP.

Michelle Obama was a lawyer at Sidley Austin LLP.

Newton N. Minow was a senior counsel at Sidley Austin LLP, a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago and an honorary trustee at the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

R. Eden Martin is counsel at Sidley Austin LLP and the president of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

JB Pritzker is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, the governor of Illinois and a trustee and serves on the investment committee of Northwestern University.

John A. Canning Jr. is a trustee at Northwestern University and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Edward M. Liddy is a trustee at Northwestern University and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

W. James McNerney Jr. is a trustee at Northwestern University and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

William M. Daley was a trustee at Northwestern University, the chief of staff or the Barack Obama administration and is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Valerie B. Jarrett is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, Vernon E. Jordan Jr’s great niece, was the senior adviser for the Barack Obama administration and a director at the Joyce Foundation.

Lee M. Mitchell was a trustee at Northwestern University and is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Patrick G. Ryan Jr. is a trustee at Northwestern University and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Gordon I. Segal was a trustee at Northwestern University and is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

David B. Speer was a trustee at Northwestern University and is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Louis A. Simpson was a trustee at Northwestern University and is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Deborah L. DeHaas is a trustee at Northwestern University and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Michael W. Ferro Jr. is a trustee at Northwestern University and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Dennis J. FitzSimons is a trustee at Northwestern University and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

J. Douglas Gray is a trustee at Northwestern University and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Dean M. Harrison is a trustee at Northwestern University and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Lester B. Knight is a trustee at Northwestern University and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Lawrence F. Levy is a trustee at Northwestern University and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

William A. Osborn is a trustee at Northwestern University and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

J.B. Pritzker is a trustee at Northwestern University and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Patrick G. Ryan Jr. is a trustee at Northwestern University and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Morton O. Schapiro is the president of Northwestern University and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Charles A. Tribbett III is a trustee at Northwestern University and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Frederick H. Waddell is a trustee at Northwestern University and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Arnold R. Weber is the president emeritus for Northwestern University and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

David B. Weinberg is a trustee at Northwestern University and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Miles D. White is a trustee at Northwestern University and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

W. Rockwell Wirtz is a trustee at Northwestern University and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

William Wrigley Jr. II was a trustee at Northwestern University and is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Dennis H. Chookaszian was a trustee at Northwestern University and is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Judge April Perry received her BS & JD from Northwestern University and is serving as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

Gary Scott Feinerman is a judge for the U.S. District Court - Northern District of Illinois and was a partner at Sidley Austin LLP.

R. Eden Martin is counsel at Sidley Austin LLP and the president of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Newton N. Minow was a senior counsel at Sidley Austin LLP, a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago and an honorary trustee at the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Michelle Obama was a lawyer at Sidley Austin LLP.

Barack Obama was an intern at Sidley Austin LLP, the president of the Harvard Law Review, the president for the Barack Obama Administration and hosted members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated.

Harvard Law Review is a law review published by an independent student group at Harvard Law School.

Judge Jia M. Cobb was a coordinating editor of the Harvard Law Review.

Merrick Garland was an editor for the Harvard Law Review, appointed Jack Smith and the Attorney General at the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) for the Joe Biden Administration.

Barack Obama was the president of the Harvard Law Review and the president for the Barack Obama Administration.

Danielle C. Gray was an editor for the Harvard Law Review and an assistant to the president for the Barack Obama Administration.

Ronald A. Klain was an editor for the Harvard Law Review and a coordinator of government Ebola efforts for the Barack Obama Administration.

Blake Roberts was an editor for the Harvard Law Review and is the deputy associate counsel for the Barack Obama Administration.

Michael B.G. Froman was an editor for the Harvard Law Review, an assistant to the president for the Barack Obama Administration and is Barack Obama’s law school friend.

Crystal Nix Hines was Barack Obama’s law school friend and a supervising editor for the Harvard Law Review.

Nancy L. McCullough is Barack Obama’s law school friend and was an editor for the Harvard Law Review.

Jonathan T. Molot is Barack Obama’s law school friend and was an editor for the Harvard Law Review.

Thomas J. Perrelli is Barack Obama’s law school friend and was a managing editor for the Harvard Law Review.

Michael J. Gottleib was an editor for the Harvard Law Review and is an associate counsel for the Barack Obama Administration.

Harold H. Koh was a developments editor for the Harvard Law Review, a State Department legal adviser for the Barack Obama Administration and a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

William M. Daley was the chief of staff for the Barack Obama administration and is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Valerie B. Jarrett was the senior adviser for the Barack Obama administration, a director at the Joyce Foundation, is Vernon E. Jordan Jr’s great niece and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Joyce Foundation was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Cyrus F. Freidheim Jr. is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago and an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank).

George Soros is the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Cameron F. Kerry is a fellow at the Brookings Institution (think tank), John F. Kerry’s brother and a senior counsel at Sidley Austin LLP.

Barack Obama was an intern at Sidley Austin LLP, the president of the Harvard Law Review and the president for the Barack Obama Administration.

Judge Jia M. Cobb was a coordinating editor of the Harvard Law Review and received her JD from Harvard University.

Harold H. Koh was a developments editor for the Harvard Law Review, an overseer at Harvard University, the State Department legal adviser for the Barack Obama administration and a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

C. Douglas Dillon was an overseer at Harvard University and the chairman for the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Henry Louis Gates Jr. is a professor at Harvard University and an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Paul E. Peterson is a professor at Harvard University and was a director of governmental studies at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Lawrence H. Summers was a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and is a professor; former president of Harvard University.

Ann M. Fudge was an overseer at Harvard University and is a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

John C. Whitehead was the chairman for Harvard University and is an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Harold H. Koh was an overseer for Harvard University, the State Department legal adviser for the Barack Obama administration and a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Herbert M. Kaplan is a board of fellow’s member for Harvard Medical School and an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Cass R. Sunstein is a professor at Harvard Medical School and a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Lynn Bendheim Thoman is a board of fellow’s member for Harvard Medical School and a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Howard E. Cox Jr. is a board of fellow’s member for Harvard Medical School and a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Kenneth M. Duberstein is a senior advisory committee member for the Harvard University Institute of Politics and a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank).

George Soros is the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

David M. Rubenstein is co-chairman for the Brookings Institution (think tank) and the president of the Economic Club of Washington.

Vernon E. Jordan Jr. is an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), Valerie B. Jarrett’s great uncle, a senior counsel for Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP and was the president of the Economic Club of Washington.

Gina F. Adams a director at the Economic Club of Washington and is a trustee at the American University.

Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP is the lobby firm for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Thomas A. Gottschalk was a director at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and is a trustee at the American University.

Arthur J. Rothkopf was the SVP for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and is a trustee at the American University.

Fuad El-Hibri is a director at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and was a trustee at the American University.

Judge Jia M. Cobb was an adjunct professor at the American University, appointed by Joe Biden, received her BA from Northwestern University, her JD from Harvard University, attended Harvard Law School, a coordinating editor of the Harvard Law Review and a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority.

Julian Bond was a distinguished professor at the American University,

a director at the Center for Economic and Policy Research and a director at the People for the American Way.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Center for Economic and Policy Research.

George Soros is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations, a board member for the International Crisis Group and was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the People for the American Way.

Mark L. Schneider is the SVP for the International Crisis Group and was a trustee at the American University.

Jasmine Crockett is a member of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority and serving as the U.S. representative for Texas's 30th congressional district since 2023.

Delta Sigma Theta

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delta_Sigma_Theta

Delta Sigma Theta was founded on January 13, 1913 by twenty-two women at Howard University in Washington, D.C.

Kamala D. Harris graduated from Howard University, was the vice president of the Joseph R. Biden Jr Administration and she served as a keynote speaker for the Social Action Luncheon during its 56th National Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana for the Delta Sigma Theta.

Judge Darrin P. Gayles received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1990 from Howard University.

Letitia James obtained her Juris Doctor degree at Howard University, is the Attorney General of New York and the chair for the Committee on Economic Development.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Committee for Economic Development.

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Earl G. Graves is a trustee at the Committee for Economic Development and a trustee at Howard University.

Carol A. Melton was a trustee at the Committee for Economic Development and a director at the Economic Club of Washington.

Robert G. Liberatore was a trustee at the Committee for Economic Development and a director at the Economic Club of Washington.

Vernon E. Jordan Jr. was the president of the Economic Club of Washington, is Valerie B. Jarrett’s great uncle, an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a trustee at Howard University.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank).

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society and is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank), the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Ted Lieu was honored with the Carnegie Corporation of New York's Great Immigrants Award, has represented California's 36th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives since 2023 and is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Astrid S. Tuminez was a program officer at the Carnegie Corporation of New York and is the 7th President of the Utah Valley University (Charlie Kirk Shooting).

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Colin L. Powell was a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and a trustee at Howard University.

Kamala D. Harris graduated from Howard University and was the vice president of the Joseph R. Biden Jr Administration.

Judge Darrin P. Gayles received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1990 from Howard University.

Letitia James obtained her Juris Doctor degree at Howard University, is the chair for the Committee on Economic Development and the Attorney General of New York.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Committee on Economic Development and the Brookings Institution (think tank).

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Vernon E. Jordan Jr. is an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), Valerie B. Jarrett’s great uncle and was the president of the Economic Club of Washington.

David M. Rubenstein is co-chairman for the Brookings Institution (think tank), the president of the Economic Club of Washington, a co-founder & co-CEO for the Carlyle Group and Joe Biden spent Thanksgiving with him.

Edward J. Mathias is a director at the Economic Club of Washington and a managing director at the Carlyle Group.

Jerome H. Powell (Jay) was a partner at the Carlyle Group and the Chairman for the Federal Reserve Board.

Lisa Cook is a member of the Federal Reserve Board earned a PhD in economics from the University of California, Berkeley and a board of directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.

David H. Romer is a professor at the University of California, Berkeley and a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago is a bank in the Federal Reserve System.

Gregory Q. Brown is a director at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Charles L. Evans is the president & CEO for the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

William C. Foote is a director at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Terry Mazany is a director at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Frederick H. Waddell is a director at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Anthony K. Anderson was a director at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

John A. Canning Jr. was the chairman for the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Silas Keehn was the president for the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Michael H. Moskow was the president & CEO for the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Thomas J. Wilson was a director at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Valerie B. Jarrett was a board member for the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, the senior adviser for the Barack Obama administration, is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago and Vernon E. Jordan Jr’s great niece.