A Man Pretending to Be an ICE Agent Threatened a Woman with Deportation

In July, a woman in Placentia, California reported to the police department that a man came to her place of work and tried to extort money from her. Luis Flores-Mendoza “allegedly wore a green uniform similar to a police uniform complete with a vest, badge and gun. The man allegedly gave her a phony letter stating that “ICE had an immigration case against her” and threatened to deport her to Mexico if she did not pay the money, according to an NBC Los Angeles news report.

Instead, the woman called the police who arrested the man on suspicion of impersonating a federal officer.

We share this story with you because the man looked like a United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official. When a person who looks and speaks like an ICE official suddenly shows up at your job or your home threatening to remove you and your family from the country, it is easy to panic and pay this imposter. Remember, you have certain legal protections.

Know your rights

As an immigrant in this U.S., you do have rights. If someone comes to your door and claims to be an ICE agent, shouting demands, know this:

• YES, ICE agents can come to your home or place of business to arrest you.
• NO, you do not have to let them in your front door without a warrant.
• YES, you can request that the ICE agent present you with identification and a warrant before you answer any questions or comply with their requests in any way.
• NO, you do not have to speak to them or answer any questions they have without a lawyer present.
• NO, you do not have to sign any document they put in front of you, especially not without speaking to an immigration attorney first.
• YES, you can report instances of abuse or violations of your rights by ICE agents.
• NO, you cannot be held in jail on a detainer for long periods.

If you are facing deportation or been abused or harassed by a person impersonating an ICE agent or an ICE agent, you have legal options. Nashville immigration attorney Perry A. Craft has been upholding the rights of the accused and of immigrants for years. Please call 615-953-3808, or fill out our contact form to schedule a consultation at the Law Office of Perry A. Craft, PLLC today.