DHS mistakenly warns US citizens aiding immigrants of deportation

• The Department of Homeland Security accidentally emailed U.S. citizens, including immigration attorneys, a notice stating they had seven days to leave the country. The message was meant for migrants who no longer have legal status in the U.S.
• Among the recipients was Pamela Rioles Saeed, an immigration attorney in Tucson, Arizona, who received the notice on April 11. 
• CBP acknowledged the issue and stated it would address misdirected emails individually.

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The Department of Homeland Security mistakenly emailed U.S. citizens a notice warning them they had seven days to leave the country. The message is believed to be intended for migrants who no longer have legal status.

Immigration attorney in Arizona received deportation warning

Among those who received the email was Pamela Rioles Saeed, an immigration attorney based in Tucson, Arizona. She later shared the message with The Arizona Republic, which included: “It’s time for you to leave the United States.”

Rioles Saeed said the email was sent on April 11 from an official DHS government address. That same day, some of her clients also reported receiving identical notices about the termination of their parole.

Rioles Saeed isn’t alone. Immigration attorneys in states including Massachusetts and Ohio also received the same notice. All represent clients in immigration and naturalization cases.

Several attorneys believe they were mistakenly contacted because their names and email addresses appear on applications submitted on behalf of their clients. They include asylum seekers or individuals applying for permanent residency. 

Immigration officials acknowledge emails sent in error to some

In a statement to multiple news outlets, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesperson, a branch of DHS, said, “CBP used the known email addresses of the alien to send notifications. If a non-personal email—such as an American citizen contact—was provided by the alien, notices may have been sent to unintended recipients. CBP is monitoring communications and will address any issues on a case-by-case basis.” 

Sent to users of CBP One app

The agency said the emails were for individuals who no longer have legal status to remain in the United States. Under President Joe Biden, the administration launched the CBP One app, which allows undocumented migrants to schedule appointments before arriving at a U.S. border. 

Through these appointments, immigration officials can screen individuals and determine whether they qualify to begin the asylum process. However, the New York Times reports that several migrants who used the app to enter the country were informed their legal status would expire seven days after the date indicated on their notice.

According to the nonprofit American Immigration Council, by May 2023, CBP One had become the primary method for asylum seekers to legally present themselves at ports of entry. Once in office, President Donald Trump ended the program for some individuals seeking asylum in the U.S. 

The Trump administration now uses the app as a way for immigrants to self-deport.