Is ICE Targeting Cambodian Immigrants?

According to a recent L.A. Times article, immigration advocates claim that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers are now targeting Cambodian immigrants when conducting immigration raids. Over the last month or so, ICE has detained more than a hundred immigrants of Cambodian descent. As Cambodia reportedly has been reluctant to accept Cambodians detained in the U.S., the federal government may be attempting to use the uptick in arrests of Cambodian immigrants as a bargaining chip to get the country to accept deportees. Cambodia already has faced visa sanctions imposed by the Trump administration due to its failure to cooperate with the U.S. government’s deportation efforts. These arrests often happen when an immigrant reports for a routine immigration check, despite the fact that he or she may have reporting annually for several years. As a result, Asian Americans Advancing Justice chapters in San Francisco and Los Angeles have filed suit against the federal government, characterizing the arrests as illegal and completely lacking in due process. Immigration officials claim that they simply are enforcing immigration laws and ensuring that other countries comply with international law in terms of accepting the return of their citizens. Nonetheless, there has been little progress to date in getting Cambodian authorities to accept those deported by the U.S. Many individuals of Cambodian descent were born in refugee camps and never have been to Cambodia. They essentially have grown up as Americans and have almost no comprehension of Cambodian culture and language. This fact historically has made Cambodia extremely reluctant to accept deportees from the U.S., despite the fact that the individuals are of Cambodian descent. At Landerholm Immigration, A.P.C., we care about you and your family, and want to help you preserve your home in the United States. If you or a family member fears deportation, you need to speak with an experienced immigration attorney right away. We focus our law practice solely on deportation defense cases, which allows us to expend all of our efforts in standing up for the rights of those who are facing potential deportation, including those who are seeking asylum. Our California deportation defense lawyers know how to gather persuasive evidence to support your case and we know all of the procedural ins and outs of the U.S. deportation system. Allow us to handle your deportation case by contacting us today to schedule an appointment.