New Year, we Deport them all Policy?

Last month, the Washington Post reported that the Obama administration is preparing for raids focusing on Central American families who have fled to the U.S. since the beginning of 2014. The Department of Homeland Security and the agencies of ICE and Border Patrol will be executing such plan. Should the Department of Homeland Security follow through on this wicked plan, hundreds of families, if not thousands, could be deported following raids.

There are numerous reports showing that family detention in the past two years has raised serious due process concerns, including a lack of legal representation for minors, quick deportations, long detentions, short court adjournments, etc. There is no doubt that without an attorney, child migrants from Central America face overwhelming odds in seeking relief from U.S. immigration courts, which is often difficult to be navigated even by adults with representation. The plan has not been confirmed by the Department of Homeland Security yet.

But, who are those that will be targeted if the plan is true? These are mostly women and children fleeing violence from Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador. We are a nation of immigrants and we have always opened our doors for refugees. So, what is different now? I strongly belief that it is the racisms and discrimination that have gone viral based on politicians like Donald Trump and their plans for mass deportations. But, clearly, to punish these families for our lack of a functioning refugee program that meets the needs of Central America would be against our principles. These are families that have had to choose between violence and safety. To say that we must force them or condemn them to the violent circumstances they fled would be unconscionable.

It would be an outrage if the administration subjected Central American families to even more aggressive enforcement tactics after it has massively detained families and deprived so many of their right to seek asylum in this country.

 In fact, El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala have some of the highest murder rates in the world, with El Salvador recently passing Honduras for the top spot.

 In summary, DHS plan is to deport young mothers and their children to the violent communities they fled. The consequences of deporting these vulnerable families to communities where gangs rule and the state is virtually absent are predictable.

You should remember that this article is not intended to provide you with legal advice; it is intended only to provide guidance about the immigration laws and policies. Furthermore, the article is not intended to explain or identify all potential issues that may arise in connection with a case involving a refugee, an asylum application or an immigration case. 

I represent individuals in immigration cases. If you have any questions or concerns about an immigration case and/or you are undocumented, you can call me at (315) 422-5673, send me a fax at (315) 466-5673, or e-mail me at joseperez@joseperezyourlawyer.com. The Law Office of Jose Perez is located at 120 East Washington Street, Suite 925, Syracuse, New York 13202. We are also in Buffalo and coming soon to ROCHESTER!!! Please look for my next article in the February edition. I HOPE THAT THIS NEW YEAR BRINGS ALL THE GREAT THINGS 2015 BROUGHT AND FAR MORE!!!!