New immigration court tactic leads to huge lines and chaos in Miami

Long lines have become the new norm at the Miami Immigration Court, after a new Trump immigration tactic, known as "mega master" calendar hearings, went into effect. Eva Marie Uzcategui for NPR hide caption

MIAMI — Yerandy Gonzalez looks at the line of hundreds of people in front of him and shakes his head.

The line — which stretches across a few blocks on this humid Tuesday morning — is of people waiting to go inside Miami's immigration court. All of the people in line have a scheduled hearing – for many it's their first court appearance.

Avene Jeanite, a 52-year-old Haitian man, is among those waiting. He was here last month accompanying a friend facing deportation. But today is his appointment.

"It was not like this — you would go to the door and they'd let you in," Jeanite said. "Today is completely different."

Avene Jeanite, a 52-year-old Haitian man, had an immigration hearing appointment in Miami this week. Sergio Martínez-Beltrán/NPR hide caption

The long lines are not a glitch. They are the result of a new Trump administration tactic, known as "mega master" calendar hearings ," designed to quickly deport people.

Under the old system, each judge would handle about three dozen cases per day.