Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency arrests 300 in California over a three day sweep.

According to ICE, the nearly 300 arrested had a serious criminal record or criminally violent background. One third of those arrested have already been deported and the remainder are awaiting deportation processing. ICE defends its position on continued sweeps in the illegal immigrant community in an ongoing effort to improve public safety. However, skeptics question the validity that these sweeps are only targeting illegal criminals and not the entire illegal immigrant community.

Immigrant rights and advocacy groups criticize ICE for arresting all immigrants without legal documentation in these sweeps as opposed to only targeting those with a criminal background. The Immigrants’ Rights Project is skeptical of the claim that of the nearly 300 arrested, all had a serious criminal background. They criticize that previous sweeps have resulted in a large number of arrests without a criminal record.

It is absolutely crucial to consult an criminal immigration attorney before speaking to authorities as soon as representation is granted. An immigration attorney will be able to discuss your illegal status or legal status in violation of immigration laws and the chances you have to resolve your immigration situation. Speaking to authorities without any representation will further complicate and hinder any chances of a positive outcome.

With ICE sweeps continuing to increase, it is crucial that immigrants deal with their illegal status now before it is too late. The Law Offices of Eliana Phelps have been serving the community of Southern California for years, successfully helping immigration clients with a wide variety of complex issues. Our immigration law firm has represented clients in matters ranging from deportation defense to cancellation of removal to 212(c) relief to complex discretionary relief and appeals matters.

Attorney Eliana Phelps is an experienced criminal immigration attorney in California. Her law firm provides immigration services to national and international clients and has an outstanding success rate defending immigrant crime and deportation cases. See phelpsattorneys.com for more information.

(source: nytimes.com)