President Promises Chaldean Community Relief from ICE

BY PAUL NATINSKY

The Chaldean Community pushed the ICE-inspired deportation and detention issue in the highest of places Jan. 30—both literally and figuratively. 

Michigan’s Republican Congressional Delegation led by Congressman John Moolenaar bent President Trump’s ear on his trip to speak about auto industry issues at a plant in Warren. The legislators explained to the president that a number of Chaldeans were in danger of being detained indefinitely and possibly facing deportation. 

“I know you have a wonderful Iraqi Christian Community in Michigan,” said Trump during his Warren speech. “The congressmen were telling me on the plane how rough it is for them.”

“You know the Chaldeans,” he continued. “We have some Chaldeans that are working here. We talked about it long and hard on the flight in. We’re going to make sure that we are going to do everything we can to keep people who have been good to this country out of harm’s way.” 

Trump vowed to work with Michigan legislators to  “give those who need it an extension to stay in our country.”

The president’s remarks are the latest installment of an ongoing legal and advocacy effort to prevent the federal government from deporting Chaldeans, many of whom have lived in Michigan most of their lives, to a war-torn region where they are a persecuted minority. 

The story began in June 2017, when Immigration & Customs Enforcement agents rounded up 1,400 Iraqis nationwide, including many in Michigan. 

Since that time the American Civil Liberties Union and the Chaldean Community Foundation have been pushing hard to gain relief for immigrants. CCF President Martin Manna said the Foundation is leading the advocacy effort to persuade elected officials to take action, while the ACLU  and community attorneys keep pressure on the legal system. 

Manna said advocacy efforts during the past two years have included talking with the Iraqi ambassador to the United States, several members of Congress (including Moolenaar and Levin, who have introduced a bill), the vice president, Homeland Security director and, ultimately, the president Oct. 30.

Since that autumn audience with Trump, Manna said advocates are communicating with the president’s office weekly and have had several more discussions with the president’s staff, Moolenaar and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy. The latest word is that some of Trump’s advisors have concerns about how to provide relief, and they are running out of time. Feb. 24 marks the date when a court action authorizes indefinite detention. That date was after presstime.

Still, Manna is hopeful.  “The president’s comments were unique, saying those that have been good to our country for a long time should be granted relief, and I’m hoping that means he wants to put them on some path to citizenship.

“The president has a couple of options,” said Manna. “He can grant what is called temporary protective status. This class of individuals is protected and can’t be deported because of country conditions.” He said this protection can be lifted anytime, but is typically reviewed annually. He said there is something similar called ‘deferred forced departure,’  deferring removal because of country conditions. 

Whichever road leads to relief, it must be traveled soon.