The Law Office of J. Joseph Cohen is an immigration law firm in San Antonio, Texas that works with individuals facing deportation and removal. The coronavirus pandemic has affected various aspects of American life. How has the coronavirus affected deportation and removal procedures?

In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, ICE notes that its current priority for enforcement and removal are individuals who pose a risk to public safety and individuals who require mandatory detention due to criminal charges. ICE also has the discretion to delay enforcement actions for those who are not deemed to be a high risk, but it is important to note that this is at the discretion of officers. ICE will also continue to perform investigations into child exploitation, human trafficking, gangs, narcotics trafficking, and terrorism investigations.

Individuals needing to seek health care have been assured that ICE will not engage in enforcement around hospitals, health care facilities, doctor’s offices, clinics, or urgent care centers. This means that if you suspect that you may have the virus and get tested, or need urgent medical attention, you should be able to seek these services with the knowledge that ICE will not be investigating individuals in these locations. ICE has reiterated that individuals should not avoid seeking medical care out of fear of facing immigration enforcement actions.

However, for those who had been scheduled to be deported, the New York Times reports that deportations have continued during the pandemic, with concerns that deported individuals may have spread the virus to their home countries. In fact, some individuals who were deported later tested positive for the virus. The Times reports that dozens of Guatemalans tested positive for the coronavirus after returning to Guatemala, which has raised concerns because of the country’s poor health care services and infrastructure to handle an influx of new cases. The Times reports that in March alone ICE performed 17,965 removals.

Another issue is immigrants in detention. Immigration lawyers have expressed concern about the risk of infection among people in custody. With people living in such close quarters, the risk of virus spread is high. It is unlikely that immigrant detention centers can meet the requirements of the CDC that people not gather in groups of ten or more. Some immigration lawyers have pursued lawsuits demanding for the release of nonviolent detainees to prevent the spread of the virus.

Are you concerned about deportation and removal during these difficult times? Do you have a loved one who is detained and have questions about whether you may be able to petition for his or her release? J. Joseph Cohen is a deportation lawyer in San Antonio, Texas that works with clients, helping them with their deportation cases. These are tough times for us all, requiring unprecedented actions. Many immigrant advocates have called for the release of those who are detained. Reach out to J. Joseph Cohen today to protect your rights or contact USAttorneys.com to get connected with J. Joseph Cohen.