On Sunday, dozens of Chaldeans in metro Detroit were arrested by agents of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and now face the prospect of deportation from the US, according to Chaldean community leaders. The Chaldean Community Foundation president, a Christian advocate for Iraq-Americans, Martin Manna, says that almost 40 arrests were carried out at the weekend.
Manna admitted that many of those arrested have criminal records and are on a final order of removal, but points out that returning them to Iraq is tantamount to a death sentence. The specifics of the case were not commented on by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. But, spokesman Khaalid Walls, noted on Sunday evening that such targeted enforcement operations are regularly carried out by the agency, and the apprehension of removable aliens sees extra personnel and resources allocated to it.
Walls also highlighted the fact that the focus of such operations is consistent with the targeted and routine arrests carried out daily by the Fugitive Operations Team of ICE. Walls says that confirmation of operations is not given by the agency until after they have been completed. Many Chaldeans living in the metro Detroit area came to the US several decades ago, and have unclear immigration statuses, and some may have served time for committing crimes.
Now that President Donald Trump is cracking down on undocumented immigrants, Chaldeans fear that if deported to Iraq, they will face persecution due to their Christian beliefs.