Ralph Waldo Emerson is quoted saying “Sorrow looks back, Worry looks around, Faith looks up.” This is a time of deep concern for many who may be facing the risk of deportation. The best way to lessen our worry is to understand the priority categories of immigrants with no lawful status in the United States. At this point in the Administration’s efforts, folks who have no criminal record, no deportation order and have been in the country for considerable amount of time have little to worry about. Nevertheless, there are things that folks need to consider.
Under President Donald Trump’s administration, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been directed to prioritize the deportation of specific categories of immigrants with no lawful status. The top three priority categories are:
1. Individuals with Criminal Convictions
ICE focuses on apprehending and deporting immigrants with no lawful status who have been convicted of crimes, particularly those involving violence, drug trafficking, or other serious offenses. ICE has declared that this priority aims to enhance public safety by removing individuals deemed as threats to the community. For instance, ICE touted a recent operation in New York, federal agents detained a violent gang leader, Anderson Zambrano-Pacheco.
2. Recent Border Crossers
The administration targets individuals who have recently entered the United States without authorization. The Trump is seeking to deter illegal immigration and address the surge of unauthorized entries by enhancing Border Patrol’s tools and authority and by using the US military to patrol the border. Border Patrol uses expedited removal processes to swiftly deport individuals apprehended near the border. This means that if you have any dreams of coming to the United States, do not cross the border illegally as enforcement is heightened, and you are better served by speaking to an experienced US immigration attorney to discuss options.
Carefully consider entering the United States illegally
Life in the United States may seem better than where a person comes from, but a person that enters the United States illegally faces the constant fear of removal. The risk and consequences may seem minimal before crossing or during the first few years in the United States, but a person who is deemed removable later may have deep roots in the United States. That person can still be removed. Consider that after building a life in the United States, a person can still be separated from friends and family, leave their family without a way to maintain themselves, lose businesses and have to leave it all behind. Do yourself a favor and speak to an experienced US immigration attorney to discuss options. An immigration attorney is your best chance to plan a strategy for success in the United States. It’s that important!!!
3. Individuals with Final Deportation Orders
ICE prioritizes the removal of individuals who have been issued final orders of deportation by immigration judges but have remained in the country. The Trump administration has come out very aggressively and people with deportation orders are low hanging fruit. Why? People with deportation orders have exhausted all legal avenues of appeal and are subject to mandatory removal. If ICE finds a person with a deportation order, they do not even have to bring you before a court in most cases.
If you do not fall within one of these priorities, the chances of being removed are lower. Nevertheless, there is a risk if a person is found while ICE is investigating a person under the three priorities mentioned above. It also does not mean that the Trump Administration has not cast a wide a net to apprehend anyone here with no legal status.
Mayer Law Firm offers free phone consultations. Contact the Mayer Law Firm today to get answers!!