can someone be deported without seeing a judge?

Generally speaking, aliens are entitled to a hearing before an immigration judge before being deported. In your fact situation, I assume that you are saying that your son's father had to check into Immigration every six months. That is a procedure used for individuals who have already seen the immigration judge and received a final order of deportation. They are then given in some cases an order of supervision which allows them to stay temporarily while DHS Enforcement Removal Operations attempt to make arrangements to send them back to their home countries. During check-in's, such individuals are sometimes taken, detained, and finally deported.Due to the limitations of the Lawyers.com Forums, Alan Lee, Esq.'s (the "Firm") participation in responding to questions posted herein does not constitute legal advice, nor legal representation of the person or entity posting a question. No Attorney/Client relationship is or shall be construed to be created hereby. The information provided herein by the Firm is general, and requires that the poster obtain specific legal advice from an attorney. The poster shall not rely upon the information provided herein as legal advice nor as the basis for making any decisions of legal consequence.