Southeast Asian Immigrants Face Surprise Deportations During Routine ICE Check-ins

Southeast Asian immigrants across Los Angeles and Orange counties with long-suspended deportation orders are increasingly being detained during routine check-ins with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a policy shift that could impact immigrant families throughout South Los Angeles communities.

Immigration attorneys and advocacy groups report that Cambodian, Laotian, and Vietnamese immigrants whose deportation orders had been stayed for years — in some cases decades — are suddenly being told these orders will now be enforced as the Trump administration seeks to increase deportations.

This enforcement trend represents a significant policy shift that could affect Southeast Asian residents across the region, including those in Inglewood, Compton, and surrounding neighborhoods where immigrant communities have established roots over generations.

“Many of these individuals have been living and working in our communities for decades, raising families and contributing to society,” said a spokesperson from Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Los Angeles, which has been tracking these cases. “Now they’re going to what they thought was a routine check-in and not coming home.”

The surge in enforcement specifically targets immigrants with old removal orders that had previously been deprioritized. Many affected individuals were refugees who fled Southeast Asia during conflicts in the 1970s and 1980s and have established deep community ties in Southern California.

Local immigrant advocacy groups in South Los Angeles have reported increased concern among community members, with some families seeking legal assistance to understand their rights and options. Organizations like the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA) and the Southeast Asian Community Alliance (SEACA) have been holding know-your-rights workshops in response.

For residents of Inglewood and Compton who may be affected by these enforcement actions, community organizations recommend consulting with immigration attorneys before attending scheduled ICE check-ins and understanding what documentation to bring and what rights individuals have during these appointments.

According to data from the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) at Syracuse University, deportations to Southeast Asian countries have increased significantly in the first quarter of 2025 compared to previous years, with California seeing some of the highest numbers nationwide.

Local elected officials from several Los Angeles County cities have expressed concern about the impacts these detentions and deportations have on community trust and family stability, with some calling for greater transparency about enforcement priorities from federal authorities.

Community members seeking information about legal resources can contact the Asian Americans Advancing Justice immigration clinic, CHIRLA’s hotline, or the Los Angeles County Office of Immigrant Affairs for guidance and support.