A
recent news article
told the story of Romulo Avelica-Gonzalez, whom Immigration and Customs
Enforcement (ICE) detained as he was dropping off his youngest daughter
at a Los Angeles school. His daughter began recording the incident with
her cell phone because she didn’t understand what was happening
or how ICE knew her father. Mr. Avelica has lived in the U.S. for almost
25 years, but became subject to a deportation order in 2014 based on a
DUI conviction ten years ago. As news of the arrest quickly spread, local
officials expressed their outrage that an immigration arrest could occur
in front of a school and the individual’s child. This incident highlights
the steadily growing tension between local government officials and federal
immigration authorities over the enforcement of federal immigration law.
Historically, local government officials have declined to assist ICE in
detaining immigrants without legal status. However, these officials have
no authority to prevent or stop ICE arrests or round-ups of immigrants
living in the state without the proper legal status. As a result, local
authorities are rightfully concerned about fear of detention and deportation
preventing immigrant community members from reporting crimes or communicating
with them as needed. Similar concerns and situations are occurring nationwide,
in cities like Santa Cruz, El Paso, Denver, Austin, and Los Angeles. Local
government officials are claiming that the more aggressive immigration
enforcement tactics are making their cities and counties unsafe. Meanwhile,
school officials at Academia Avance in Los Angeles are trying to prepare
their other students for the possibility of their parents facing deportation.
Teachers will meet with parents in conferences and ask them directly about
the plans or arrangements that they may have made for their children in
the event of deportation. Currently, as is the case with other public
schools, the small charter school does not know which students’
parents have no legal status. Whether detention by ICE occurs at a school,
church, public place, or private resident, the Oakland deportation defense
attorneys of
Landerholm Immigration, A.P.C.
know how to help you and your family through every step of your loved
one’s deportation proceedings. Take the first step today toward
securing the future of your family in the United States, and call our
office at (510) 756-4468 to set up a consultation with one of our highly
skilled California immigration lawyers.
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If you want to know more about the Biden's Proposed Immigration Reform, watch our video!