A rising number of Southeast Asian immigrants in Los Angeles and Orange counties are facing detention and deportation after attending routine check-ins with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Many of these individuals, primarily Cambodians, Laotians, and Vietnamese, have had their deportation orders on hold for years, in some cases for decades. This shift comes as the Trump administration intensifies efforts to increase deportations.
These immigrants often have criminal convictions that make them eligible for deportation. However, many have lived in the U.S. long enough that their home countries no longer recognize them as citizens. In some cases, like with Laos, the government does not readily provide documents for repatriation. As a result, ICE had previously allowed these individuals to stay in the country, requiring only regular check-ins to demonstrate they were working and staying out of trouble.
Recent reports indicate that at least 17 individuals in the Los Angeles and Orange County areas have been detained or deported during check-ins in the past month alone. Connie Chung Joe, the head of Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California, expressed concern over the impact of these actions on families and communities. Many of those affected have lived in the U.S. for decades and are now facing sudden separation from their loved ones.
The Asian Law Caucus reported that as of 2024, around 15,100 Cambodians, Laotians, and Vietnamese nationals are in similar situations across the country. Lee Ann Felder-Heim, a staff attorney at the Asian Law Caucus, noted that many people are fearful about attending their check-ins, despite their commitment to comply with reporting requirements.
Orange County hosts the largest Vietnamese community outside Vietnam, with over 100,000 Vietnamese Americans living there. Many of these individuals are refugees who fled the aftermath of the Vietnam War. Tens of thousands of Cambodians and Laotians also call the Los Angeles area home.
Laura Urias, a program director at Immigrant Defenders Law Center, highlighted that many of these immigrants came to the U.S. as children and faced challenges integrating into society. Some fell into trouble during their youth but have since rehabilitated and built stable lives.
One Cambodian immigrant recently learned he had to produce a plane ticket to Cambodia within 60 days after a check-in. While none of Urias’s clients have been deported yet, she has heard of cases where individuals without legal representation were removed after their appointments.
The Department of Homeland Security has not commented on the reasons behind this policy change or whether the home countries will accept deportees. Legal experts like Richard Wilner have noted an uptick in inquiries from families of detained immigrants, indicating a growing fear among immigrant communities.
This situation raises questions about the criteria being used to decide who gets targeted for deportation. Some individuals who have turned their lives around are facing removal, while others with serious criminal histories remain in the country. The uncertainty and fear surrounding these check-ins continue to weigh heavily on many families in the community.