Even before Donald Trump was sworn into office, reinvigorated border officials began their raids into communities of color, affecting immigrants from Asia.
Although most of the media attention focused on the planeloads of alleged undocumented immigrants being sent to South American countries and ICE sweeps reported in California targeting Latino Americans, AANHPI communities have not been spared from fear and nervousness generated by the Trump policy of mass deportations.
Reactions from legal advocates were tempered before the inauguration but as the first week of pell-mell presidential decrees began to be implemented, resistence has stiffen with a barrage of lawsuits against the Trump Presidential Orders.
A day after Trump signed the Executive Order, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., challenging the order. It is the latest of many legal challenges against the flurry of Executive Orders coming out of the White House in the Trump administration's first week.
"The expansion means that low-level DHS officers can now immediately and without process subject individuals in the interior of the United States to expedited removal, without any consideration of their family ties," the ACLU alleged.
There are about 11 million unauthorised immigrants in the US, according to the Pew Research Center.
Arrests have occurred across the natpn involving ICE agents and border control officers. Tom Homan, Trump's border czar, said the intention was to first go after those individuals with criminal records but there have been numerous instances in which undocumented immigrants who have not committed crimes and even US citizens have been rounded up.
On Sunday, Homan told ABC News that he expected arrest and deportation numbers to "steadily increase," and said the focus right now was "public safety threats, national security threats".
The 956 reported arrests on Sunday follow 286 arrests on Saturday, 593 arrests on Friday and 538 arrests on Thursday. The actions involved several federal agencies such as ICE, the FBI, US Marshals, the border officers and other federal entities, highlighting the militarized approach to immigration enforce ..
On Sunday, Homan told ABC News that he expected arrest and deportation numbers to "steadily increase," and said the focus right now was "public safety threats, national security threats".
The 956 reported arrests on Sunday follow 286 arrests on Saturday, 593 arrests on Friday and 538 arrests on Thursday. The actions involved several federal agencies such as ICE, the FBI, US Marshals, the border officers and other federal entities, highlighting the militarized approach to immigration enforce ..
FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS WORKING WITH TRUMP
China has pledged to accept undocumented Chinese citizens back to their homeland. As of 2022, there were 375,000 unauthorised immigrants from China in the US, according to Pew estimates. That figure also includes migrants from Hong Kong and Taiwan.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said on Monday, Jan. 27, that the Chinese government would accept US deportation flights for individuals confirmed as Chinese nationals who crossed illegally into the US.
According to Department of Homeland Security records, China accepted four charter removal flights from the Biden administration in the past six months.
Twenty-four Filipinos accused of criminal activity were rounded up by Border officers during the last months of the Biden Administration. The 24 were reportedly deported on Jan. 21, a day after Trump moved into the White House.
According to some accounts, there are about 300,000 Filipinos in the US without legal status. The Philippine Embassy in Washington, DC says most of this population came to the US legally as students, tourists or with work visas for certain occupations, but failed to extend their visas.
Beyond the first batch of 24, at least 80 more Filipinos are awaiting deportation, according to Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez.
DEPORTED TO THE PHILIPPINES
China has pledged to accept undocumented Chinese citizens back to their homeland. As of 2022, there were 375,000 unauthorised immigrants from China in the US, according to Pew estimates. That figure also includes migrants from Hong Kong and Taiwan.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said on Monday, Jan. 27, that the Chinese government would accept US deportation flights for individuals confirmed as Chinese nationals who crossed illegally into the US.
According to Department of Homeland Security records, China accepted four charter removal flights from the Biden administration in the past six months.
Twenty-four Filipinos accused of criminal activity were rounded up by Border officers during the last months of the Biden Administration. The 24 were reportedly deported on Jan. 21, a day after Trump moved into the White House.
According to some accounts, there are about 300,000 Filipinos in the US without legal status. The Philippine Embassy in Washington, DC says most of this population came to the US legally as students, tourists or with work visas for certain occupations, but failed to extend their visas.
Beyond the first batch of 24, at least 80 more Filipinos are awaiting deportation, according to Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez.
DEPORTED TO THE PHILIPPINES
“We’re closely coordinating with Homeland Security to ensure those facing deportation are treated properly,” Romualdez said. He confirmed that deported Filipinos are transported directly to the airport and placed on commercial flights back to the Philippines.
Romualdez noted that Filipinos with work permits have a better chance of obtaining legal residency in the US, as their employers can sponsor them. However, undocumented Filipinos, especially those who entered the US as tourists, may face challenges and are encouraged to seek legal assistance.
“We have many Filipino-American lawyers volunteering at our consulate who can provide information on how they can assist,” he said.
Since Trump won the election in November, Romualdez has been urging undocumented Filipinos to self-repatriate rather than wait to get deported. Individuals who are deported will find it more difficult to obtain a new visa to return to the US, whereas those who return to the Philippines voluntarily will avoid having breaking the law on their record.
Within the Filipino community, the overstaying Filipinos are called TNT, tago ng tago, Tagalog for "hide-hide."
LARGEST NUMBER OF UNAUTHORIZED ASIANS ARE FROM INDIA
Reports that ICE has arrested South Asians at their temple of worship were disputed by members of those worship houses.
As of 2022, there were 725,000 unauthorised immigrants from India in the US, according to Pew estimates, the third-highest number after Mexico and El Salvador.
That number does not include the Indians in the US with H-1B visas who were brought here by their employers, many of whom are in the high-tech industries. According to the latest data from the 2020 Census, there are over 300,000 Indians with this status.
Reports that ICE has arrested South Asians at their temple of worship were disputed by members of those worship houses.
As of 2022, there were 725,000 unauthorised immigrants from India in the US, according to Pew estimates, the third-highest number after Mexico and El Salvador.
That number does not include the Indians in the US with H-1B visas who were brought here by their employers, many of whom are in the high-tech industries. According to the latest data from the 2020 Census, there are over 300,000 Indians with this status.
As of presstime, there have not been any ICE forays disturbing undocumented European or Canadian communities.
Trump is carrying out his campaign promise of deporting immigrants without the proper documents an dending illegal border crossings, mostly the border between the uS and Mexico. While his supporters are cheering the deportations, the Gestapo-like actions of the border patrol officers and ICE agents is disturbing, to say the least.
Trump is carrying out his campaign promise of deporting immigrants without the proper documents an dending illegal border crossings, mostly the border between the uS and Mexico. While his supporters are cheering the deportations, the Gestapo-like actions of the border patrol officers and ICE agents is disturbing, to say the least.
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS
Video prepared by Catholic Charities.
Legal advocates such as the Advancing Asian Americans for Justice (AAAJ), the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association and Asian Legal Defense and Education Fund remind anyone being confronted by federal agents that they have certain rights. The Asian Law Caucus prepared athe following nswers for anyone being confronted by ICE or border officials:
- You have the right to remain silent. You may refuse to speak to immigration officers.
- Carry a know-your-rights card and show it if an immigration officer stops you.
- Do not open your door.
- You have the right to speak to a lawyer.
- Before you sign anything, talk to a lawyer.
- Always carry with you any valid immigration document you have.
- If you are worried ICE will arrest you, let the officer know if you have children.
- ICE and other law enforcement officers may think they can get away with violating your rights.
- Create a safety plan.
- Report and document raids and arrests.
- Find legal help.
EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X or at the blog Views From the Edge.
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