According to the Department of Homeland Security, ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) is planning to begin nationwide raids aimed at deporting adults and children who have already been ordered removed by an immigration judge. The Raids will be focusing on thousands of families that have come into the country since the start of last year, mostly from Central America, including an unprecedented number of underage minors that have made it across the Southwest border.
Ice spokeswoman Gillian Christensen commented, “As Secretary Johnson has consistently said, our border is not open to illegal immigration, and if individuals come here illegally, do not qualify for asylum or other relief, and have final orders of removal, they will be sent back consistent with our laws and our values.” In a separate statement last week, Chistensen said that as part of civil enforcement priorities announced by DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson in November 2014, the agency will focus on individuals “who pose a threat to national security, public safety and border security.” That group includes people who have been caught trying to enter the U.S. illegally and that have been ordered removed from the country since January 2014. The Obama administration disclosed this week that in the 2015 budget year, the U.S. deported the fewest immigrants since 2006. ICE said that of the 235,413 people removed or returned during that time period, 98 percent met one or more of ICE’s enforcement priorities.
The raids, which will begin in January, is the first mass deportation of its kind. The ICE operation would target only adults and children who have already been ordered removed from the United States by an immigration judge and would be detained wherever they can be found and immediately deported.
Some things to consider in order to be prepared for a potential ICE Raid:
- Always have at least 2 close friends or relatives phone numbers memorized in case you need to call them if you are detained by ICE
- If you have children, have an emergency plan in place for their care should you be detained
- Do not willingly open the door if ICE comes to your home and don’t admit you know of anyone that they say they are looking for
- ICE is not allowed in your home without a warrant; And if they do present a warrant it needs to be signed by a Judge
- Always remain silent and remember you have the right to an attorney
- Don’t give ICE agents any information about yourself or others and remember never to sign anything without consulting an attorney first
- Try to Document the Raid as best as you can; Photos and Detailed Notes with names of the officers and their ID numbers, and how the events unfolded; The more details the better;
- You can fight your case
- You can report the incident online at http://www.notonemoredeportation.com/intake/
