Some citizens are receiving letters from Homeland Security. Credit: Chip Somodevilla / Getty
A U.S. citizen shared a letter from the White House threatening to deport him.
The Department of Homeland Security stunned Aldo Martinez-Gomez, a seasoned immigration attorney and lifelong U.S. citizen from San Diego, with a deportation notice on April 11.
The letter gave him just seven days to leave the country.
“I was born in Paradise Valley Hospital in National City and raised in Chula Vista,” Martinez-Gomez told Fox 40.
“Where do you want me to go? I’ve lived in San Diego County my whole life.”
The letter warned: “If you do not depart the United States immediately, you will face potential law enforcement actions leading to your removal.”
It added, “Do not attempt to remain in the U.S. – The federal government will find you.”
The chilling irony is that Martinez-Gomez works full-time helping people fight deportation orders in immigration court.
“When I represent people in immigration court, there’s always an ICE office nearby. Will I be detained at a hearing? Will they come to my house?” he questioned.
A DHS official later admitted that they may have sent notifications to unintended recipients, but Martinez-Gomez’s sense of safety had already shattered, according to ABC 10.
“I’ve had to make contingency plans with my mom, something I never thought I’d have to do,” he shared.
“I’m not seeking fame or attention.
I just want to bring light to this issue.
I’m not trying to be one of the government’s mistakes.”
He wasn’t alone.
In Boston, immigration attorney Carmen Bello received an identical message. She has been a U.S. citizen since 2007.
“Depart the United States immediately,” the letter read. It was sent at 2:05 AM. The letter claimed her “parole” was terminated. It warned of “criminal prosecution, civil fines, and penalties” if she stayed.
The letter explained, “You are currently here because DHS paroled you into the U.S. for a limited period.” It encouraged her to leave using the CBP Home mobile app.
Bello quickly realized the letter was a mistake. “This type of error is common,” she told the Daily Mail.
She encouraged anyone who received the email to seek legal advice.
For some, a clerical error is life-altering. Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident, was deported to El Salvador in error, per CBS.
Now, he is detained in a high-security prison in Santa Ana. His attorneys are working to bring him home.
Sure! Here’s the same text broken down into shorter sentences, keeping the 20-word limit in mind:
Judge Paula Xinis of the U.S. District Court issued a fiery ruling. She condemned the Justice Department’s delays. She wrote, “For weeks, Defendants sought refuge behind vague and unsubstantiated assertions of privilege. That ends now. To preserve their privilege claims, Defendants must support them with required detail.”
The court-mandated updates on Abrego Garcia’s status were inconsistent. Reports stated he moved from El Salvador’s CECOT prison to a lower-security facility on April 9. However, U.S. officials still listed him as detained at CECOT days later.
Xinis said, “Every day Mr. Abrego Garcia is detained in CECOT is another day of irreparable harm.” She ordered depositions and expedited discovery from Trump administration officials.
Senator Chris Van Hollen recently met with Abrego Garcia. He confirmed Garcia is in “good condition and excellent health,” according to the U.S. Embassy.
Attorneys argue the government’s discovery response lacked substance. It mostly consisted of “public filings, copies of Plaintiffs’ own discovery requests, and nonsubstantive cover emails.”
“This system doesn’t let you include an attorney’s contact info. Therefore, we still don’t know how I ended up on the list,” said Micheroni. This reflects the confusion shared by all involved.
