Asian American Congressional Alliance Criticizes ICE Enforcement
Key Takeaways
- CAPAC members and Asian community leaders allege recent ICE enforcement in Minnesota has sown fear, including among lawfully present immigrants.
- Reported incidents include stops near public schools and the detention of a breastfeeding mother awaiting a green card decision.
- Advocates say some officers targeted people by accent or appearance; ICE did not respond to a request for comment.
- Community groups warn that original passports and immigration documents may be seized during encounters and advise carrying copies.
- Lawmakers call for stronger congressional oversight of DHS and legislation to protect Southeast Asian refugee communities.
Lawmakers and advocates allege profiling, chilling effect
At a March 10 virtual press conference, the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) and Asian American community leaders criticized alleged recent operations by ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) in Minnesota. Rep. Grace Meng said it has been reported that Asian and Asian immigrant residents in Minneapolis, including people with legal status, are carrying passports out of fear they will be stopped. Meng alleged that some officers appeared to target people by accent or physical appearance, heightening anxiety in neighborhoods. She urged Congress to increase oversight of DHS (Department of Homeland Security) and to advance legislation safeguarding immigrant communities.
Reports of school-area stops and family separation
Minnesota State Rep. Liz Lee said enforcement activity is ongoing and allegedly extended to areas near public schools, where officers questioned parents and teachers picking up children—an approach that left students unsettled. Lee cited a widely discussed case involving a breastfeeding mother who was reportedly detained and transferred to Texas for several weeks while her green card (lawful permanent residence) application was pending, preventing her from nursing and separating her from her infant. ICE did not respond to a request for comment by publication time.
Document seizure concerns and community guidance
A representative of the Coalition of Asian American Leaders addressed questions about retrieving seized identity documents, noting that when individuals present original passports or entry papers, officers allegedly sometimes take the originals and do not readily return them. For that reason, the group advises immigrants to carry photocopies rather than originals, and to provide originals later if formally requested. Losing an original passport can complicate reissuance, especially if the person lacks other identity documents. Individuals should still comply with lawful requests from immigration officers; legal counsel can advise on rights during encounters.
Calls for oversight and protections for Southeast Asian refugees
CAPAC leaders pressed for stronger congressional oversight of DHS and for legislation to protect Southeast Asian refugees, a community that advocacy groups say faces unique vulnerabilities stemming from historical displacement and complex immigration histories. While DHS has previously issued internal guidance limiting civil immigration enforcement at or near “sensitive” or “protected” areas such as schools and places of worship, those policies are not codified in statute and include exceptions. For families and employers in Minnesota’s Asian communities, the reported enforcement surge means potential disruptions to school routines, health care, and pending immigration applications. Attorneys advise those with active cases—such as adjustment of status or asylum—to keep case receipts accessible, know their rights, and seek immediate legal help if a family member is detained.
Source: Original Article