Arrests in the Immigrant Community
Since the Trump Administration took power in late January, there have been reports across the country of” immigration raids” or “community arrests” in which Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers go into communities and arrest individuals who live there. According to an analysis conducted by Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse at Syracuse University, these kinds of enforcement actions have generally accounted for a small percentage of individuals who are apprehended by ICE.
The New York Times is reporting that officials at ICE are denying that the recent immigration roundups represent a shift in policy. On the other hand, President Trump has indicated his desire to more strongly enforce U.S. immigration law and has made significant changes to the enforcement policies that were in place under President Obama. In an executive order, Trump greatly expanded the categories of people who would be treated as enforcement priorities. For example, now anyone accused of a crime is treated as a priority. In contrast, under the Obama administration, only individuals who had committed “serious” crimes were treated as enforcement priorities.
Know Your Immigration Status and Your Rights
The changes to U.S. immigration policy justifiably has many people living in immigrant communities nervous. One of the best things that you can do to protect yourself from adverse legal action is to ensure that you are in compliance with the law or, if you are not, find a way to be in compliance with the law as soon as possible.
For this reason, foreign nationals who are concerned that they may be subject to ICE enforcement action should review their situation with an attorney as soon as possible. Some of the ways that a lawyer can help include the following:
- Review and confirm your immigration status
- Help determine if you are eligible for deferred status under DACA
- Determine whether you are eligible to remain in the United States because of your work, school, need for asylum, refugee status, or for some other reason
- Represent you in court or in an administrative proceeding
Call 201-703-9400 today for more information.
If you have been arrested as a result of your immigration status or otherwise have issues related to immigration law, you should speak to an attorney as soon as possible. New Jersey immigration attorney Ronald P. Mondello is dedicated to protecting the rights of foreign nationals and understands the complex interaction between criminal and immigration law. To schedule a consultation with Mr. Mondello, call our office today at 201-703-9400 or contact us online.
