Will I Be Deported if I Contact Police to Report a Crime?

There is no automatic deportation that occurs when an immigrant with no legal status contacts law enforcement authorities about a crime that has occurred, such as a sexual assault, domestic violence incident, or other act of violence. However, given the recent surge in the enforcement of immigration laws and detention of undocumented individuals by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), many immigration activists and law enforcement agencies are reporting that crime reporting by non-citizens has significantly decreased. This reluctance to report crimes out of fear of deportation is concerning in terms of ensuring the safety of communities; if crime perpetrators are allowed to walk free with no repercussions for their crimes, they may be more likely to commit crimes in the future, which makes communities less safe for everyone. Recent reports of a woman in El Paso being detained by ICE following her court appearance in protective order proceedings have helped increase fear in the immigrant community of detention and deportation if they report crimes. Court dates make it much easier for ICE agents to ensure that a targeted individual will appear at a certain place of time, which, in turn, makes it easier to detain them. Although some law enforcement agencies and local government entities historically have refused to cooperate with ICE requests for detention, thus creating “sanctuaries” for immigrants without legal status, the Trump administration has taken a hard line with these entities. More specifically, the federal government has threatened to yank federal funding from communities who choose not to honor requests from ICE and/or enforce federal immigration laws on behalf of the federal government. The deportation defense lawyers of Landerholm Immigration, A.P.C., pride themselves on aggressively representing the interests of those immigrants who are facing potential deportation by American immigration authorities. Our goal is to gather evidence in your favor, build on a strong case on your behalf, and develop a strategy that is best designed to help you remain in the United States and move on with your life. The earlier we can get started with your case, the more likely you are to prevail in your deportation proceedings. Don’t hesitate to contact us today and learn what we can do to assist you.