13 August 2004	Friday	26 Jamadi-us-Saani 1425

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug 12: US immigration officials have announced plans to deport illegal immigrants to their home countries without judicial hearings.

The programme, known as "expedited removal", will be applied to illegal immigrants from countries other than Canada and Mexico, who are apprehended near the border areas of Arizona, and Texas, Homeland Security under secretary Asa Hutchinson said.

Currently, immigrants whose home countries do not share a border with the US and who are apprehended outside the ports of entry are released on bond. Beginning later this month, illegal immigrants who are caught by patrols in Arizona and Texas within 14 days of their arrival and within 100 miles of the border will be detained and flown back to their homeland as soon as possible.