Florida readers may be interested to learn that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents will soon begin deporting immigrant families who have been ordered to leave the United States according to ICE Interim Director Thomas Homan. Homan made the comments during a House Border Security and Maritime subcommittee hearing on May 22.
Homan, who is retiring in June, is under orders from the Trump administration to increase immigration enforcement. He told the subcommittee that immigrant families have received “due process” and that it’s time for his department to step up enforcement of removal orders. He also said that he expects there to be a backlash in response to the deportations, but the agency will not be deterred from executing the orders.
The subcommittee hearing was chaired by U.S. Rep. Martha McSally, R-Ariz. It was held to explore ways to stop the large groups of immigrant families that are currently crossing the U.S. border to request asylum. Most of these families are fleeing violent areas of Central America. McSally claimed the U.S. immigration system is broken and alleged that many immigrants try to exploit the problem by making false asylum claims. However, subcommittee member U.S. Rep. Nanette Barragan, D-Calif., called such talk “rhetoric” and said that it turned her stomach.
Asylum cases can be complex and take months or years to complete. Individuals and families seeking asylum may wish to discuss their case with an immigration attorney. An attorney may help clients navigate the U.S. immigration system and work to get their asylum applications approved. An attorney might also be able to help asylum seekers who have been threatened with deportation. Legal counsel may work to develop a deportation defense and attempt to delay or end deportation proceedings.
Source: AZ Central, “U.S. to begin deporting families with deportation orders, head of ICE warns,” Daniel Gonzalez, May 22, 2018
