St. Louis-area immigration attorneys and advocates say federal officials are targeting longtime residents as part of a nationwide push to substantially increase deportations.
Several immigrants with final orders to leave the country — some of whom have been in the U.S. for years — received text messages from Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Monday afternoon.
The messages directed the recipients to report to their local ICE office within 48 hours.
St. Louis Public Radio reviewed one of the text messages, which was sent to an immigrant without legal status who is under ICE’s Intensive Supervision Appearance Program. ISAP is an alternative to detention for noncitizens who are in the country unlawfully.
"Your ICE officer has requested that you report to the office for a case revi