immigrantion and Customs Enforcement agents recently arrested 112 immigrants in Southern California. These arrests came as part of a four-day sweep, arranged to round up ex-convicts to be put through deportation and removal proceedings. Many of these individuals have already been released from jail, but some are being held to go before immigrantion judges.
According to a recent report, from July 19 through July 22, ICE agents focused on arresting immigrants with criminal backgrounds. Some of the individuals arrested are residing in the country legally, while many of the others are believed to be undocumented. Those who have already attained legal statuses could lose those statuses — as is common following certain criminal convictions.
The criminal backgrounds of these individuals vary. Some are believed to have committed relatively minor crimes, while others’ criminal actions are believed to have been more serious in nature, including burglary, assault with a deadly weapon and sex offenses, among others. Those who have committed felony level offenses may be deported immediately.
In accordance with the laws of California, local authorities are not required to hold immigrants for ICE agents. immigrantion and Customs Enforcement officials must ask them to perform sweeps, like this one, in order to detain immigrants for deportation and removal proceedings. Those who have been detained and are facing these proceedings do have the right to representation. With the help of experienced immigrantion attorneys, those individuals who are facing deportation due to criminal convictions may be able to successfully fight for the right to remain in the country.
Source: CBS Sacramento, “immigrantion Agents Arrest 112 Ex-Convicts In California”, July 22, 2016