Archive for ICE

Yunseo Chung Sues U.S. Government Over Alleged ICE Retaliation

Yunseo Chung Sues U.S. Government Over Alleged ICE Retaliation

Yunseo Chung, a junior at Columbia University and lawful permanent resident of the United States, has filed a federal lawsuit against the U.S. government, claiming she was unlawfully targeted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents for her political activism. The lawsuit, filed in New Jersey, alleges that ICE violated Chung’s constitutional rights when agents attempted to detain her following her public criticism of immigration policies.

According to the complaint, Chung became a vocal critic of U.S. immigration enforcement after participating in student protests and publishing op-eds in university newspapers. She claims that shortly after speaking out publicly, ICE agents arrived at her parents’ home with the intent to question and potentially detain her. The lawsuit argues that this action constituted retaliation based on her exercise of free speech.

Chung’s legal team alleges that ICE used her immigration status as a pretext for surveillance and intimidation, despite her having permanent legal status and no criminal record. They argue that such conduct amounts to political targeting, in violation of the First and Fourth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution.

The Department of Homeland Security has not publicly commented on the lawsuit. Legal experts say the case raises important questions about the limits of immigration enforcement and whether federal agencies can be held accountable for infringing on civil liberties under the guise of national security.

Civil rights advocates have rallied behind Chung, pointing to a growing trend in which politically active immigrants—even those with legal status—face disproportionate scrutiny and retaliation. The case has drawn attention from student organizations, immigration reform groups, and legal scholars across the country.

If the court rules in Chung’s favor, it could set a significant precedent affirming that permanent residents are entitled to the same free speech protections as U.S. citizens. It could also lead to increased oversight of immigration enforcement practices and policies related to political surveillance.

For Chung, the lawsuit is about accountability and protecting others from similar treatment. “No one should be afraid to speak out simply because of where they were born,” she said in a statement. “We all deserve the right to be heard without fear of government retaliation.”

Her legal team is seeking a court order to prevent further ICE interference in her life, as well as compensatory damages for emotional distress and legal costs. The case is now moving forward in federal court.

 

 

A 50-Year-Old Mother of Six Seeks Asylum in a Church to Avoid Deportation

The implementation of President Donald Trump’s immigration laws has rubbed many people the wrong way. It is also a threat to some families. A case in point is that of Francisca Lino, a 50-year-old mother of six. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement department had given her until Thanksgiving Day to turn herself in for deportation or be declared a fugitive.

A Former Deportee

The escapades of Francisca Lino with ICE have been a cat and mouse race for nearly two decades. Their first encounter was in 1999 when the department detained her for illegally crossing the USA-Mexico border. She was fingerprinted and expeditiously deported from the US.

Days after her deportation, Ms. Lino made a second attempt and successfully crossed the border. She married Diego Lino, a US citizen and finally settled in Bolingbrook. Each of them had a child from previous relationships. They had four more together, making Ms. Lino a mother of six.

A Victim of a Notary Fraud

Ms. Lino’s current woes began in 2005 when she applied for a green card. Through a notary public, she had managed to get a driving license and a Social Security Number. After paying all necessary fees to the ICE, she was called for an interview to review her application. She was arrested during the interview for not stating her previous arrest during the application.

However, according to her attorney, she had made this admission verbatim to the officials during application. Not including this in her application was a notary fraud for which she is not responsible.

Nevertheless, in March 2017, she received a notice of deportation. She was required to visit the ICE with a plane ticket. In a desperate attempt to avoid deportation, she had her husband drive her to Adalberto United Methodist church. The same parish had offered asylum to immigration activist, Elvira Arellano years before.

Ms. Lino through her attorney filed a federal civil rights lawsuit citing a breach of her Fifth Amendment’s rights in the 1999 arrest. The arrest made her lose legal immigration status. Her immigration attorney plans to use the lawsuit to urge the ICE to stay their deportation until the federal case is finalized.

Since the law prohibits raids on places of worship, Francisca has a reprieve to pray for her fate or plan how to leave her family.