Southeast Asian Immigrants Face Detention and Deportation
Introduction to the Issue
A growing number of Southeast Asian immigrants in Los Angeles and Orange counties whose deportation orders have been on indefinite hold for years are being detained, and in some cases, deported after showing up for routine check-ins at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement offices, according to immigrant attorneys and advocacy groups.
Background on the Affected Immigrants
The immigrants being targeted are generally people who were convicted of a crime after arriving in the U.S., making them eligible for deportation after their release from jail or prison. In most cases, ICE never followed through with the deportations because the immigrants had lived in the U.S. long enough that their home countries no longer recognized them as citizens, or as is the case with Laos, the home country does not readily issue repatriation documents.
Previous Arrangements for Immigrants
Instead, under longstanding policies, these immigrants have been allowed to remain in the U.S. with the condition that they checked in with ICE agents regularly to show they were working and staying out of trouble. The check-ins generally start out monthly, but over time become an annual visit.
Statistics on the Affected Population
According to the Asian Law Caucus, as of 2024 there were roughly 15,100 Cambodians, Laotians and Vietnamese nationals living in this situation across the U.S.
Community Concerns and Reactions
“People are very worried about their check-ins. They are dedicated to complying with their reporting requirements and want to continue to comply as they have been doing for years, but they are also afraid to report based on what they have seen on the news,” said Lee Ann Felder-Heim, a staff attorney at the Asian Law Caucus.
Recent Incidents of Detention and Deportation
Connie Chung Joe, the chief executive of Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California, said that in the last month her organization has been made aware of at least 17 community members in Los Angeles and Orange counties who have gone in for scheduled check-ins, only to be detained or deported.
Impact on Communities
“These are folks who’ve been here for decades,” Chung Joe said. “It just breaks the community and their families apart.”
Demographics of the Affected Areas
Orange County is home to the largest diaspora of Vietnamese outside of their home country, many of them refugees who fled the fall of Saigon. The county’s Little Saigon is home to more than 100,000 Vietnamese Americans. In addition, tens of thousands of Cambodians and Laotians have settled in the Los Angeles area, according to the Pew Research Center.
Challenges Faced by Southeast Asian Refugees
Many Southeast Asian refugees were brought over as children, and not all got adequate support as they coped with the upheaval, said Laura Urias, program director at Immigrant Defenders Law Center. Some fell in with gangs as they struggled to assimilate, and that’s when they got caught up in the criminal system.
Paths to Rehabilitation
Although they may have gotten in trouble as youths, Urias said, many served their time and went on to get jobs and put down roots.
Instances of Detention
In one instance, a Cambodian immigrant went in for his ICE check-in and came out with an order to produce a plane ticket to Cambodia within 60 days, she said. Urias said none of the center’s clients have been deported at this point, but that she has heard about people without legal representation who were deported after a check-in.
Analysis of the Policy Shift
“It’s definitely something that we haven’t really seen before,” Urias said. “It aligns with the overall message that this administration came in with — threatening to deport as many people as possible.”
Lack of Response from the Department of Homeland Security
The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, did not respond to a list of questions from The Times about the reasons behind the policy shift and whether the immigrants’ home countries will accept them.
Speculations on International Cooperation
Urias said she suspects that the Trump administration’s looming tariff threats have made some countries more willing to cooperate and accept deportees.
Increase in Legal Consultations
Richard Wilner said his firm, Wilner & O’Reilly, in Orange, has seen an uptick in requests for consultations from the families of immigrants who have been detained. His firm does not take on clients who have been convicted of serious crimes such as sexual offenses and murder.
Uncertainty Over Selection Criteria
“In the past two weeks, I’ve gotten more phone calls than I have in the past 15 years or longer, because people are getting arrested,” he said.
He added that he hasn’t been able to figure out why some immigrants with delayed deportation orders are being targeted for removal and not others.
Conclusion
The situation highlights the uncertainty and fear that many Southeast Asian immigrants are facing under the current administration. With the lack of clear guidelines on who will be targeted for deportation, communities are left in a state of anxiety, awaiting their scheduled check-ins with ICE. The impact of these deportations goes beyond the individual, affecting families and communities that have been built over decades in the United States.
FAQs
Q: What is happening to Southeast Asian immigrants with deportation orders?
A: Many Southeast Asian immigrants who have been allowed to stay in the U.S. under the condition of regular check-ins with ICE are now being detained or deported after showing up for these check-ins.
Q: Why are these immigrants being targeted?
A: The exact reasons behind the policy shift are unclear, but it is believed to align with the Trump administration’s goal to increase deportations.
Q: How many Southeast Asian immigrants are affected?
A: According to the Asian Law Caucus, there are roughly 15,100 Cambodians, Laotians, and Vietnamese nationals living in the U.S. with delayed deportation orders.
Q: What can immigrants do if they are facing deportation?
A: Immigrants facing deportation should seek legal representation. Organizations such as the Asian Law Caucus and Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California can provide guidance and support.
Q: Are the home countries of these immigrants willing to accept deportees?
A: The willingness of home countries to accept deportees is unclear, but it is speculated that international pressures, such as tariff threats, may be influencing their cooperation.
