By Hector Benitez, CEO and Attorney at Benme Legal

For years, being deported meant going back to your home country. That’s no longer necessarily the case. In August, the United States sent the first group of 20 immigrants to Liberia under a “third-country” agreement, under which the African nation will take in up to 1,200 deportees over the next year, people who have no ties to Liberia whatsoever. Among the first group were migrants from Latin America.

No longer the exception

Liberia isn’t an isolated case. The administration has signed similar agreements with at least 35 countries, many of them in Africa, and an estimated 22,000 people have already been sent to countries that weren’t their own. The Liberia agreement is the largest one so far, and it’s being challenged in U.S. courts.

Who could be affected?

This policy can affect people of any nationality, especially those with a final order of removal whose home country won’t take them back or is slow to do so. For many Latin American families, this means the risk is no longer just being sent home, but ending up in an unfamiliar country, with a different language and no support network.

What you can do today

Knowing your exact immigration situation is your best defense. If you have a deportation order, even an old one, have your file reviewed by an attorney to find out whether there’s a way to reopen your case or seek relief. If you’re afraid of being sent to a country where your life or safety would be at risk, it’s essential to know how and when to express that fear. Keep your documents organized, know who your attorney is, and make sure your family knows who to call.

Benme Legal’s take

“The rules have changed, and what once seemed impossible is now a reality,” warns the Benme Legal team. That’s why we keep saying it: an informed immigrant is a protected immigrant. Watch the full interview: https://www.instagram.com/p/Dcbn1C7gn21/

Message us: wa.me/17863348891

www.benmelegal.com