OK immigration attorney sees uptick in I.C.E. check-in detainments
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) - An immigration attorney said that she and others have seen an uptick in immigration check-in detainments within the last couple of months.
"The Trump administration has pushed for deportations more. In the news, we've seen and heard about the raids. I will tell you that most deportations are happening either in the immigration court or in ICE check-ins," said Lorena Rivas of Rivas & Associates.
Recently, News 4 ran a story about Ton Vongphakdy.
Ton is an Edmond father who came as a toddler to America in 1981 and has lived in Oklahoma for over 40 years. He came from Laos, escaping the Vietnam War.
“I grew up here in America. All we know is the U.S., that’s all we know,” said Nouni Vongphadky, his sister.
Ton, though, at 19 years old, was arrested for theft in drug offenses in the 90s. He served around seven years for the crimes and got out of jail.
When he got out, his family said he turned a new leaf. He then met his wife, got a house, had two girls, and became an Oklahoman.
That crime from the 90s is what could end up sending him to Laos.
"When I saw that story, I immediately started to fear for other individuals who are in the same boat," said Rivas. "The immigrant community is covered in fear since the current administration came in. Something someone wouldn't have gotten deported for before, are getting deported for now."
While Rivas has not talked to the family or friends, she familiarized herself somewhat based on the story.
She said it's stories like Vongphakdy's that she hopes will shed light on the system itself not working as well as it should.
Rivas said it has been similar to several other stories she's heard involving detainments right after their I.C.E. check-ins.
She said that crimes committed by a permanent resident are what could open the door to deportation.
"It's not any crime. It's drug-related crimes, theft, fraud, or violence," said Rivas.
For Vongphakdy, he told his friends that he knew at the next check-in he would end up being detained and eventually deported.
Rivas said for many, it becomes choosing to go to the check-in and possibly get detained, or not go, and eventually, officials come to your house or work and get you for deportation.
"There's risk on both sides — as an attorney, all I can advise them is what they're risks are and then they get to decide, which one do they want to do," said Rivas.
Rivas said something she's seen in the past, and picking up now is how communications between a person detained and their loved ones become nearly impossible.
For Vongphakdy, his family and friends said it took days, if not weeks, before they were even able to find out where he was. And when they did, they couldn't go see him.
The GoFundMe put together for Vongphakdy has earned around $26,000 so far. Rivas said cases like his are not going to be easy to fight.
"Those cases are not easy to win — it possibly could be won, but they're not easy, and that certainly still doesn't give him long-term protection because it doesn't lead to citizenship," said Rivas.
News 4 heard back from Immigration and Customs Enforcement Friday about what Vongphakdy's status is or where he is headed next. They responded by asking for more information.