Trump Administration’s U.S. Interior Deportations Jumps 34 Percent. Employers and Immigrants Must Be Proactive.

The Washington Post reported that deportations of undocumented immigrants living in the United States have significantly increased under President Trump’s Administration. The rise is attributable to increased immigration enforcement within the United States, rather than a focus on the U.S. border with Mexico alone.  This is a shift from the Obama Administration’s policy of deferring deportations of undocumented immigrants living in the United States while focusing primarily on deporting immigrants at the U.S. border with Mexico.

From January 22, 2017, to September 9, 2017, immigration authorities deported a total of 142,818 immigrants at the border and from the U.S. interior.  Of this total, 54,000 immigrants were living in the U.S. interior—a 34 percent increase in U.S. interior deportations over the same period last year. 

The Department of Homeland Security reported that the jump in interior deportations was a result of the recent reinstatement of worksite raids and inspections; Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification audits; and collateral arrests of undocumented immigrants who were present when others with immigration warrants were arrested by immigration authorities.

Immigration authorities have promised that interior enforcement will only become more aggressive in the months and years to come.

Employers must be prepared: ensure employment eligibility immigration compliance.  Undocumented immigrants living in the United States must beware: seek immigration counsel to know your rights and understand your options. 

The time to act is now.

If you have questions about this post or other immigration-related issues, please contact me at RGLahoud@nmmlaw.com.