On January 20, 2025, President Donald J. Trump was sworn in as the 47th President of the United States of America. Since January 20, 2025, there have been a flurry of changes in all aspect of American government. Immigration priorities shifted rather fast and news media along with self-proclaimed social media experts started churning out information resulting in a deportation scare among the immigrant community. Unfortunately, among these social media experts are some lawyers--who's marketing policy appears to be scaring people and turning these scared people into revenue streams. This is a brief blog post to inform about the ground reality which likely differs from the social media reality.
Are You at Risk of Deportation? It Depends.
While it is true that the immigrant community has been shaken by recent ICE raids and people are being detained, arrested, and deported to their country of origin. It is also true that ICE is focused on certain illegal noncitizens as a priority. First, people with criminal records who are deemed inadmissible (people with no status) under immigration law or who are deemed removable (people with green cards or other protected status) under immigration law. Second, people with prior removal orders who have been ordered removed but failed to depart the United States or re-entered illegally after they were removed from the United States. Third, people who have no pending cases, petitions, or applications before USCIS or Immigration Courts and thus are either inadmissible or removable. Fourth, people who have been in the country for less than two-years at the time of their arrest and who have no pending status, cases, petitions, or applications. Fifth, people apprehended and in custody who are inadmissible and do not either qualify for a relief or have failed to establish that they warrant a favorable grant of relief in their removal proceedings.
If you are not in any of these categories, you are likely fine and you can go about your daily life as you normally would.
Can ICE Question me even if I have a pending Case? Yes.
It is also true that ICE can stop and question people and inquire about their immigration status in public places. Should you be worried if you have a pending case, of-course not. Please ensure to keep your documents with you like pending receipt notices, hearing notices, work permits, green-cards etc. There are certain Constitutional protections that are in place but that's a topic for another blog post. For now, know that don't be afraid and it is perfectly okay if ICE questions you in public places. Reach out to your lawyers right away if you are stopped or questioned by ICE.
Conclusion
Like I said at the beginning of this post, this is a short blog post and its being written to counter the fear mongering that is going on news and social media. Always ensure to verify the information you receive with reputable sources. Keep your documents handy and reach out to lawyers right away.
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The Singh Law Office—a California Immigration lawyer—can help you protect your important immigration rights before the Court. Inderraj Singh, Esq., aggressively fights for his clients and successfully appeared in immigration courts to protect the interests of his immigrant clients.
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