Key Takeaways
• Routine ICE check-ins in Los Angeles now often end in sudden detention and deportation for Southeast Asians.
• Cambodians, Laotians, Vietnamese, Hmong, and Mien immigrants face heightened risk due to stricter federal immigration enforcement.
• Legal and community advocates urge those with removal orders to consult attorneys before ICE appointments and to know their rights.
Southeast Asians living in the Los Angeles 🇺🇸 area are facing a new wave of fear and uncertainty. What used to be a normal appointment with immigration authorities can now lead to sudden detention and swift deportation. This change in practice affects not just individuals, but entire families and communities. There are many stories of parents and caregivers, who have lived in the United States 🇺🇸 for decades, being taken away without warning—leaving children, spouses, and loved ones behind to pick up the pieces.
The Growing Risk at ICE Check-Ins
For many years, Southeast Asians who received removal orders from immigration courts—meaning orders to leave the United States 🇺🇸—still lived in the country under what is called “orders of supervision.” These orders allowed them to stay, as long as they agreed to check in with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at regular intervals. These appointments with ICE were a routine part of life for many in the Southeast Asian community in Los Angeles. However, in recent years, the mood and outcome of these check-ins have shifted dramatically.
Now, at the very moment these Southeast Asians try to comply with the rules by showing up to their scheduled ICE check-ins, they face a new threat: detention and deportation. What used to be a routine visit can end abruptly with an individual being handcuffed and sent to a detention center — many times, without advanced notice to their family or lawyer.
As reported by VisaVerge.com, the trend has become all too common in cities with large Southeast Asian populations, especially in Los Angeles, where advocates say the increase in detentions at these appointments is causing widespread panic.
Who Is Most at Risk?
It is not only one group that is at risk. The main people now facing detention and removal are Cambodian, Vietnamese, Laotian, Hmong, and Mien immigrants and refugees. Each of these groups has its own history in the United States 🇺🇸, often tied to war, violence, or family reunification. They arrived as refugees or immigrants, built lives, and had children—many of whom are now U.S. citizens themselves.
While the increase in detentions affects many different immigrant communities, the numbers show that Southeast Asians, and especially Cambodians, are being singled out.
- Cambodian Community: Cambodia 🇰🇭 has a formal repatriation agreement with the United States 🇺🇸. This means the two countries have agreed to send those with removal orders back to Cambodia. Since 2002, hundreds of people of Cambodian descent have been deported from the United States under this agreement, often after years or decades living in America.
- Laotian Nationals: According to one report, over 4,600 people considered to be from Laos 🇱🇦 currently have active removal orders in the United States 🇺🇸. So far, large-scale raids like those against the Cambodian community have not become as common for Laotian nationals, but many remain worried that it is only a matter of time.
- Vietnamese Refugees: Many Vietnamese people who came before certain diplomatic agreements may also face a renewed risk of deportation, especially as federal policies shift.
Each year, officials from these countries may visit the United States 🇺🇸 to conduct interviews and help identify people to send back. During these annual visits, the risk of being detained at ICE check-ins rises sharply for Southeast Asians in Los Angeles.
Detention Trends Under Recent Federal Policies
These harsh changes have not happened by accident. Federal policies on immigration enforcement have become tougher in recent years. Starting under the Trump administration, there was a clear push to increase arrests of immigrants with final removal orders, even if those individuals had committed no crimes and had lived peacefully in the country for years.
According to figures reviewed by The Guardian, in just the first few weeks after new national policies were put into place, about 8% (roughly 1,400) of almost 16,500 ICE arrests happened during or just after an immigrant’s scheduled check-in appointment. This means that every week, hundreds of people who were following the rules—showing up for their ICE appointments—were instead taken into custody.
The impact is especially strong in the Los Angeles area, where many Southeast Asians have made their home. For years, they complied with their orders of supervision and lived with hope that their cases would one day be resolved, perhaps through a legal win or a change in policy. Now, that sense of hope is being replaced by fear each time they approach the ICE office for a check-in.
Local Responses in Los Angeles
The city of Los Angeles has long been known for adopting “sanctuary” policies. These policies limit how much the local police can help immigration officers, except when serious or violent crimes are involved. City officials say this approach helps protect families and communities by reducing the fear that immigrants will be turned over to ICE simply for small offenses.
But even with these protections, the threat from federal agents remains. ICE is a national agency, and its officers are present at homes, workplaces, and public places throughout the city. Federal law allows ICE to operate nearly anywhere, including within “sanctuary” cities like Los Angeles.
Meanwhile, nearby Orange County has taken a different approach. Orange County law enforcement regularly hands people over to ICE, even for minor issues. This “full cooperation” policy with federal immigration officers puts many more residents in danger of being detained or deported. Advocates point out that this mixed local response—stronger protections in Los Angeles, continued cooperation in Orange County—creates confusion and leaves many Southeast Asians unsure of their rights or what to expect.
The Human Toll: Stories From the Community
For families, the sudden change in the nature of ICE check-ins is more than just a legal issue. It is a daily source of stress and heartbreak. Many people who are now being detained during these check-ins are long-time residents. They have raised families, held jobs, and paid taxes in Los Angeles for decades.
In several cases, U.S.-born children come home to find that their parent was taken by ICE during what was believed to be a routine appointment. The family may not know right away where their loved one is being held, adding feelings of fear and helplessness to the situation.
For smaller communities, the loss of even a few members can have a huge effect. Southeast Asians in Los Angeles often live in close-knit neighborhoods, where everyone knows each other. When one person is deported, it can create a ripple of sadness and insecurity across the entire community.
The mental health of those left behind is also a concern. According to local organizations, children whose parents have been detained or deported often show signs of deep sadness and anxiety. The economic impact can be severe too—many of those detained were breadwinners for their families, and their sudden absence throws others into poverty or housing problems.
Advocacy and Legal Response
Community groups, such as the Asian Law Caucus, recommend that anyone with an active removal order consult a legal expert before any immigration appointment. They stress it is critical for Southeast Asians at risk to know their rights, prepare their families, and consider every option to protect themselves.
Some of the advice includes:
- Always consult with a skilled immigration attorney before a check-in.
- Do not sign any documents at ICE offices without understanding what they mean.
- Keep important phone numbers, like those of lawyers and family, handy at all times.
- Prepare family members and children with plans in case of detention.
- Reach out to community groups for support and up-to-date information.
Resources focused on Southeast Asians facing possible detention or deportation can be found through groups like the Asian Law Caucus.
ICE asks that people scheduled for a check-in confirm appointments here, but community advocates warn that just showing up is risky if you have a final order of removal.
Why Has This Change Happened?
The increase in detention and deportation of Southeast Asians during routine ICE check-ins in Los Angeles did not happen overnight. The shift can be traced to several overlapping factors:
- Tighter Federal Policies: In recent years, executive orders have told immigration officers to arrest and remove as many people with final removal orders as possible. This led to a more aggressive enforcement style, with less focus on criminal records or time lived in the United States 🇺🇸.
- International Agreements: With Cambodia and other Southeast Asian countries, the United States 🇺🇸 has deals that require the return of people once their identity has been confirmed by visiting officials.
- Local Enforcement Differences: Stricter cooperation in areas like Orange County leads to more detentions, while “sanctuary” measures in Los Angeles only provide limited protection against national ICE efforts.
This situation has caught many Southeast Asians by surprise. After maintaining good standing, attending all ICE check-ins, and hoping for relief in their cases, they are now learning that compliance does not guarantee safety.
What Can At-Risk Individuals Do?
Here are some simple steps for those worried about detention or removal:
- Know your legal status: If you have a removal order, ask an immigration lawyer to check if any new legal options have become available to reopen your case or challenge the order.
- Have a plan for your family: Make sure family members know where important papers are kept and have contact details for a lawyer and community organizations.
- Never go alone: If you need to attend an ICE check-in, do not go alone. Ask someone you trust—ideally your lawyer—to go with you.
- Understand your rights: Remember, even if ICE officers are at your home, you do not have to open the door unless they have a proper warrant. You have the right to remain silent and to ask for a lawyer.
Impact and Looking Ahead
The increase in arrests during ICE check-ins has left Southeast Asians in Los Angeles feeling anxious and unsure. Parents fear leaving their children behind when attending what used to be ordinary appointments. Young people wonder if their family will be separated due to changing rules.
Advocates continue to push for humane treatment and policy changes that honor the unique history of Southeast Asian refugees in the United States 🇺🇸.
Main Takeaways
- Southeast Asians in Los Angeles are now much more likely to be detained or deported at routine ICE check-ins, even if they have no criminal record and have followed every rule.
- Families are being separated, with U.S.-born children often losing a parent or caregiver without warning.
- The situation is the result of stricter federal immigration policies, international agreements for deportation, and different levels of local government cooperation.
- Those at risk should seek legal advice, understand their rights, and make safety plans for their families.
For more information on ICE check-ins and official policies, you can visit the ICE official check-in page.
The changing policies have left many Southeast Asians in Los Angeles vulnerable. As the situation keeps evolving, it is more important than ever for affected families and communities to stay connected, informed, and prepared. If you or someone you know is at risk, reaching out to local legal and community resources could make all the difference in facing detention or deportation.
As the landscape around immigration enforcement in Los Angeles and across the country shifts, support from community groups and access to clear, simple information remain vital for the Southeast Asians who call the United States 🇺🇸 home.
Learn Today
Order of Supervision → A legal status allowing individuals with removal orders to remain in the U.S. while regularly reporting to ICE.
Removal Order → A formal directive from immigration courts requiring a noncitizen to leave the United States.
ICE Check-In → A scheduled appointment immigrants attend with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to maintain compliance or supervision.
Repatriation Agreement → An official agreement between two countries allowing deportation of nationals back to their country of origin.
Sanctuary Policy → Local policy limiting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement except in cases involving serious or violent crimes.
This Article in a Nutshell
In Los Angeles, Southeast Asians now face high risks of detention and deportation at once-routine ICE check-ins. Longstanding residents, including parents and caregivers, have been taken without warning, causing widespread fear. Advocacy groups urge knowing legal rights, seeking attorney counsel, and preparing families against sudden separation driven by increasingly aggressive federal immigration policies.
— By VisaVerge.com
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