Iraqi Christians In The U.S. Feeling 'Betrayed' After Trump’s Recent ICE Arrests
- 7 years ago
Iraqi Christians living in the U.S. are still reeling after many members of their community were taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE.
Iraqi Christians living in the U.S. are still reeling after many members of their community were taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, reports Fox News.
The agency reportedly targeted metro areas around Michigan which are known to have large populations of Christians from Iraq.
According to the Detroit Free Press, while ICE has admitted to arresting 114 people around the Detroit area, officials have since defended the move, with field office director Rebecca Adducci saying that “the operation...was specifically conducted to address the very real public safety threat represented by the criminal aliens arrested.”
She added, “The vast majority of those arrested...have very serious felony convictions, multiple felony convictions in many cases.”
However, a Washington Post report states that "many who have been arrested...completed their sentences years ago and had been checking in with ICE regularly, as required.”
The Post also points out that the spate of arrests was likely triggered, in part, by Iraq’s agreement to accept deportees in exchange for being omitted from President Trump’s controversial travel ban.
Nevertheless, the sweep still faces challenges including a temporary stay prompted by legal action from the American Civil Liberties Union, reports the Huffington Post.
In addition to questions about the legality of the government’s deportation process, the group contends that the detainees will likely face religious persecution should they be sent back to Iraq.
Iraqi Christians living in the U.S. are still reeling after many members of their community were taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, reports Fox News.
The agency reportedly targeted metro areas around Michigan which are known to have large populations of Christians from Iraq.
According to the Detroit Free Press, while ICE has admitted to arresting 114 people around the Detroit area, officials have since defended the move, with field office director Rebecca Adducci saying that “the operation...was specifically conducted to address the very real public safety threat represented by the criminal aliens arrested.”
She added, “The vast majority of those arrested...have very serious felony convictions, multiple felony convictions in many cases.”
However, a Washington Post report states that "many who have been arrested...completed their sentences years ago and had been checking in with ICE regularly, as required.”
The Post also points out that the spate of arrests was likely triggered, in part, by Iraq’s agreement to accept deportees in exchange for being omitted from President Trump’s controversial travel ban.
Nevertheless, the sweep still faces challenges including a temporary stay prompted by legal action from the American Civil Liberties Union, reports the Huffington Post.
In addition to questions about the legality of the government’s deportation process, the group contends that the detainees will likely face religious persecution should they be sent back to Iraq.