Young Central American immigrant arrested after deportation order

by Leslie Berestein Rojas

3 hours ago

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U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials aren't confirming if a planned immigration crackdown targeting recent arrivals with deportation orders has begun in the Los Angeles area. But they do say the arrest of a young Guatemalan man this week fits their enforcement plans.ROBERT MACPHERSON/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

Immigration officials arrested a young Guatemalan man this week at his Van Nuys home in what could signal a crackdown on Central American immigrants who have been ordered deported.

Henry Sanchez, 18, was detained by immigration agents on Wednesday and taken to the Adelanto Detention Facility. According to a statement from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement:
Database checks indicate Mr. Sanchez, who is an adult, falls within ICE’s enforcement priorities, which include individuals apprehended crossing the border illegally after Jan. 1, 2014. At the time of his arrest, Mr. Sanchez had a final order of removal and no pending legal appeals or claims.

ICE agents said Sanchez had an outstanding deportation order from June 2015. Immigrant advocates upset over Sanchez's arrest are calling for his release.

Reuters reported last week that federal officials plan enforcement action in May and June against immigrants who recently crossed the border and were ordered deported, among them families and unaccompanied minors.

The crackdowns, originally announced by the Obama administration earlier this year, have been condemned by civil rights advocates who say many of the immigrants were ordered to leave the country without their knowledge or their presence at hearings.

More than 100 Central American immigrants were picked up in sweeps earlier this year in states like Georgia, North Carolina and Texas.

http://www.scpr.org/news/2016/05/20/...sted-after-de/