On his first day in office, President Donald Trump declared a “national emergency” on the southern border and began cracking down on and deporting undocumented immigrants.
Undocumented immigrants, including Koreans, are anxious about their legal rights in case they are arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The National Association of Korean American Service and Education consortium(NAKASEC) launched a 24-hour hotline for undocumented immigrants (844-500-3222) in time for the start of Trump’s second administration.
NAKASEC says the hotline will provide counseling on immigration status, what to do if ICE comes to your home or workplace, what your rights are if you are arrested, and what to do if an undocumented family member or friend is detained.
“Since President Trump’s inauguration, many Korean Americans have been calling us with anxiety,” said Kim Jung-ho, co-director of the center. ”As soon as Trump took office, he declared a national emergency and began the process of closing borders and deporting people. Undocumented immigrants, including Koreans, should familiarize themselves with their legal rights just in case.”
On January 21, Tom Homan, the Trump administration’s “border czar,” told CNN that ICE agents have “begun cracking down on undocumented immigrants” across the country. ICE will focus on undocumented immigrants with criminal records, including assault and robbery.
“Those who are in this country illegally, have been convicted, and pose a threat to public safety are our priority,” Homan said.
“In addition to people who are struggling with their status, we’ve also gotten calls from some employers who hire undocumented workers, who are worried about how their status will be affected by hiring undocumented workers or having a record of misdemeanors or other criminal offenses, especially in light of the stricter immigration laws,” said immigration lawyer Dave Noe.
In response, Nakasek has developed a free smartphone app to educate undocumented immigrants about their legal rights. iPhone users can download “know your right 4 immigrant” from the App Store. Users of Android operating systems such as Galaxy will be able to use the app starting next week.
“If ICE comes to your home, ask to see the ‘warrant’ first, and if you are detained, remain as silent as possible and demand your right to an attorney,” said Kim. ”Also, never sign any documents from ICE without speaking to an attorney. If you have children under the age of 18, you should also tell them that they will be unaccompanied in your custody.”
Notably, undocumented immigrants are not allowed to use cell phones in detention. It’s also important to memorize the phone number of a family member or friend who can make a collect call in the event of an ICE arrest and detention.
In a press release, the Asian American Advocates for Justice (AAAJ) of Southern California (AAAJ-President Kani Chung Cho) announced that it will continue to fight for immigrant rights in the second Trump administration. The organization provides free legal counseling for immigrants.
In practice, Korean-American business owners who hire undocumented employees are concerned that their businesses will suffer.
“My undocumented Mexican employee who has been cooking soup in the kitchen for 20 years won’t leave the kitchen for fear of being raided and deported,” said one Korean-American restaurant owner in LA’s Koreatown, adding, ”I want to protect him somehow because he is loved by my customers, but I don’t know how.”
Meanwhile, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said on its website that “effective January 20, the ‘CBP One’ app, which provides advance information to undocumented aliens and allows them to schedule (interview) appointments at nine Southwest ports of entry, will not be available.”
BY HYOUNGJAE KIM [kim.ian@koreadaily.com]
