Immigration attorney receives self-deportation letter
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- An El Paso native says he received a letter from the Department of Homeland Security telling him to leave the United States immediately.
Adam Peña, an immigration lawyer working in San Diego, says he got the letter from DHS in April, notifying him that his parole in the U.S is being terminated.
The letter reads, "If you do not depart the United States immediately you will be subject to potential law enforcement actions that will result in your removal from the United States — unless you have otherwise obtained a lawful basis to remain here."
Peña states he was born in El Paso and moved to San Diego for his work as a lawyer. His family still resides in El Paso.
"Right off the bat, it says 'it is time for you to leave the United States'. And I'm like, wait, what's going on here?"
Peña believes that the letter was sent to him on purpose, as an intimidation tactic against an immigration advocate. Other immigration attorneys in the U.S have received these letters as well.
"I would have never thought we would have gotten to a point in this country where we were going to have to be proving our citizenship, or worry about proving our citizenship."
ABC-7 reached out to DHS, who gave us this statement from a senior official, "CBP used the known email addresses of the alien to send notifications. If a non-personal email—such as an American citizen contact—was provided by the alien, notices may have been sent to unintended recipients. CBP is monitoring communications and will address any issues on a case-by-case basis."
Peña said that he is going to continue fighting for immigrant rights no matter what happens.
"My question to the government is, where are you going to deport me to? My family's been here for over a century, and so this is the only country I know. We keep defending democracy and we keep holding the government to their burden, and making sure that this government is following the Constitution."
