With the new government coming into power, federal immigration enforcement is becoming increasingly strict in the United States. Regardless of having a green card, individuals with criminal records may now come under law enforcement scrutiny. In the current atmosphere of uncertainty, how can one ensure their legal residency rights in the U.S.? On the 12th, the Big Apple New Immigrant Center announced that next Monday (February 17th), they will be hosting an immigration law consultation seminar to help immigrants understand their rights and introduce the main contents of the legal consultation session.
The seminar will focus on four main areas: (1) Legal protection for recent undocumented immigrants to the U.S. (2) Legal assistance for long-term undocumented immigrants residing in the U.S. (3) How permanent residents who have violated U.S. laws can respond (4) Employer legal responsibilities and protections, as well as immigration-related employment issues.
The head of the Big Apple New Immigrant Center, Wang Lei, stated, “In the past, employers who hired undocumented immigrants operated in a legal gray area, and they were able to run their businesses smoothly when law enforcement was lenient. But now, with stricter enforcement, how should employers respond? This seminar aims to help everyone understand their legal rights and responsibilities.”
He also gave the example that many green card holders are hesitant to visit immigration offices for renewal due to criminal records, fearing arrest. In such cases, it is crucial for individuals to seek advice from professional lawyers.
Yu Jinshan, chairman of the East China Association, who has lived in Chinatown for 50 years, expressed that while the series of executive orders from the Trump administration may sound intimidating, the actual impact may be limited, as there are over 10 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S., making it impractical for authorities to deport them all. The majority of these individuals abide by the law, work diligently, and pay taxes. However, the current border enforcement tactics causing fear are leading to a panic effect. Understanding one’s rights through legal counsel is essential due to the complexities of immigration law and the U.S. being a society governed by the rule of law, where even undocumented immigrants still have certain rights.
Veteran immigration lawyer Edward Cuccia strongly agreed, saying, “Many people who have no need to fear are feeling scared, while some who believe they have no issues are actually facing crises. We can help clarify these misunderstandings, allowing individuals to understand their true circumstances.”
The manager of Cuccia Law Firm, Lin Aimei, mentioned that the seminar will offer free consultations in multiple languages such as Mandarin, Fuzhou dialect, Spanish, Cantonese, and English on-site. Regardless of the length of their stay in the U.S., participants can bring relevant documents for lawyers to provide professional guidance and advice.
Wang Lei added that masks will be provided during the seminar, not only for flu prevention but also to protect privacy. An anonymous question submission method will be set up on-site, where participants can write down their questions on a piece of paper for lawyers to publicly address, without worries about revealing their identity.
Democratic candidate for the 65th District, Part B, Kanielle Hernandez, also attended the press conference and emphasized the necessity of legal seminars for the community. She also pledged to promote such seminars in the Hispanic community.
Regarding the current immigration enforcement stance by authorities, Yu Jinshan advised that comprehensive deportation of undocumented immigrants is not only improbable but could also create fluctuations in the labor market. He recommended that for long-term law-abiding undocumented immigrants, authorities should work towards legitimizing their statuses while expediting the processing of backlogged cases for family-based and employment-based immigration to restore immigration rule of law.
Immigration law seminar details: February 17th at 2:00 PM; Address: Unit 149, East Broadway Mall, Chinatown. ◇