New York State Attorney General Letitia James joined the Mayor of Chicago in saying that they will Not Ccooperate with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Raids rounding up Migrant Families.
“President Trump’s use of migrant families and asylum seekers as political punching bags is a despicable act of racism and xenophobia that is antithetical to our basic human values,” James said in a Statement.
President Trump’s tweeted that ICE, the Enforcement arm of Department of Homeland Security (DHS), was preparing to Deport “millions” of Undocumented Immigrants next week.
“If you’re here illegally, then you should be removed,” Acting Head of ICE Mark Morgan told Reporters Wednesday during a Call prompted by the president’s tweet. “And in this case, that includes families.”
“The president has threatened to begin raids in New York and across the country this weekend in an effort to round up thousands of migrant families. This is an immoral and unconscionable act by a president and an Administration hell-bent on dividing our country, and, as New York’s top law enforcement officer, I can assure New Yorkers we will do everything in our power to fight back against these inhumane policies.” James said.
“The Trump Administration’s impending blitz of ICE raids across the country, including here in New York, is shameful and wholly unacceptable, and we will fight back at every turn to protect our immigrant families. As I’ve said before, if there is a move to deport immigrants then I say start with me — a son of immigrants.” Governor Andrew Cuomo said in a Statement.
James added that those who wish to Check whether a Removal Order has been Issued against them can call the Immigration Court’s information system at 1-800-898-7180 and that those that need advice can call the Office of New Americans hotline at 1-800-566-7636.
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced Friday that the Chicago Police Department will also Not Cooperate with the ICE Raids.
On Saturday, President Trump Defended his Plan on Twitter. “The people that Ice will apprehend have already been ordered to be deported. This means that they have run from the law and run from the courts. These are people that are supposed to go back to their home country. They broke the law by coming into the country, & now by staying,” he said.
Once an Order of Removal becomes Final, then ICE is supposed to Deport you within 90 days, although due to Limited Resources and Higher Priorities, it does not always start the Process until much later. If you have Not been Notified by ICE, you have No Specific Duty to do anything just yet, as it is up to ICE to begin the Removal Process.
ICE will try to send what is known as a "Bag and Baggage" Letter (Form I-166) demanding that you Report to a Local ICE Facility at a particular Time and Date. You will be told to bring your Passport or other Travel Documents with you, and you will be allowed a Small piece of Luggage to carry Personal items. Basically, this is a Letter asking you to turn Yourself in so that you can be Deported. At this point, you have a Legal Duty to Report for Removal as directed.
If you Report as directed with your Documents and Baggage or picked up in a Raid, you will be taken into Custody or Detained until the Government Arranges to Send you Back to your Home Country. For those Countries, such as Mexico, Arrangements are done Quickly and Mass Deportations take place several times each week. If you are from a Country that does Not have Diplomatic Relations with the U.S., Travel Arrangements could take much Longer.
Trump Delayed Sunday’s scheduled Raids on Undocumented Families but said they would Resume if Democrats did Not Agree to Asylum Law Changes. The President said he would give Both Parties Two weeks to come up with a Solution.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
