In recent years, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been intensifying enforcement efforts to apprehend undocumented immigrants with criminal records, aiming to create safer communities and a safer America. However, these actions have faced resistance from some immigrant rights advocacy groups. Regarding a recent enforcement operation by ICE in Los Angeles, Chinese lawyers provide some legal advice for undocumented Chinese immigrants.
According to a report by Fox 11, on Sunday, in Alhambra, a “sanctuary city” in Southern California with a significant Chinese population, five ICE vehicles were seen in the parking lot of a Target supermarket, where they later apprehended an individual during an enforcement operation.
Members of the immigrant community organization “Union del Barrio” rushed to the enforcement scene, using loudspeakers to urge ICE personnel to leave and alerting the community. One member mentioned to CNN that their organization has been very active recently, with 150 members patrolling the streets all day to track ICE movements and engage in protests.
As reported by the Los Angeles Times, federal law enforcement officials plan to conduct large-scale immigration enforcement actions in the area by the end of February. Despite ICE’s primary focus being undocumented immigrants with criminal backgrounds in other cities, immigrant rights advocates reveal that residents in immigrant communities upon hearing the news are fearful, worrying that individuals without criminal convictions may also face deportation, leading to family separations.
As a sanctuary state, California prohibits local police departments from cooperating with federal law enforcement agencies. Many cities in the Los Angeles area are also sanctuary cities, where local governments and police departments do not fully collaborate with ICE, creating impediments for enforcement. Immigration officials are also constrained by a court order issued last year forbidding ICE officers from conducting civil enforcement actions on private properties without a warrant.
Addressing the momentum of ICE’s large-scale enforcement efforts in Los Angeles, Chinese lawyer Longzhu Liu in Southern California emphasizes that everyone in the United States, including undocumented immigrants, has legal rights, stating, “Regardless of your status, you have legal rights.” He advises community residents that if ICE officers show up for immigration enforcement, they have the right to refuse to open the door, sign any documents, or speak.
The Washington Post recently reported on ICE’s offices setting daily arrest “quotas” nationwide, a claim disputed by Tom Homan, Trump’s former acting director of ICE. When federal officials make arrests, will undocumented immigrants without criminal records also be apprehended incidentally?
To address concerns of some Chinese residents, Liu explains that illegal immigrants fall into two categories: those who entered illegally and those who overstayed legal entry. “Being here illegally or overstaying your visa doesn’t automatically mean you have to be deported by law. Within the legal boundaries, you may be allowed to stay.” He further emphasizes that each individual’s situation is unique, citing examples of individuals married to U.S. citizens or having children who are citizens.
Liu, a Republican who ran for State Assembly in California’s 49th District last year, sees his defense of undocumented immigrants as complementary to the federal government’s goal. He states, “President Trump’s job is to get rid of the bad guys, and my job is to keep the good ones.”
He prepared a “little red card” listing the legal rights granted to undocumented immigrants by U.S. law, which individuals can present to ICE officers during enforcement encounters to overcome language barriers.
Currently, ICE’s “task force model” allows state and county law enforcement agencies to exercise certain immigration enforcement powers in their daily duties, enabling street questioning of individuals’ immigration status and subsequent arrests. Several states, such as Florida, Texas, Idaho, Kansas, and Oklahoma, have adopted this model in conjunction with the federal government.
In light of this, Liu warns undocumented residents to be cautious when traveling across state lines and avoid illegal activities. In his understanding, “As long as you’re an illegal immigrant, regardless of any criminal record, you can be deported.”
Over the years, he has also learned that drunk driving and domestic violence are prevalent in Chinese American households. “In the U.S., the threshold for defining domestic violence is low. Even a slight push that doesn’t cause much harm could lead to a ‘domestic violence’ charge when reported.” He concludes by advising newly arrived Chinese immigrants to manage their stress levels effectively and never drive under the influence. ◇