Deportation

[pokeweed 0]

I have a friend who was deported. His date to leave the country was 1/11/11. He is still here and now Bahrain is in turmoil. If he turns himself in what will happen to him? We are pretty sure the government will kill him if he returns at this point but he is illegal in the US. Any suggestions?

[TBoneTX 45,468]

You can contact ICE via email at Immigration.Reply@dhs.gov or you can telephone ICE at 1-866-347-2423. That's the most efficient way to find out.

[~Johnny~ 27]

Hmm I wish ICE would detain my ex and send her to Bahrain.

As has already been said, best to call ICE and talk them.

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

I have a friend who was deported. His date to leave the country was 1/11/11. He is still here and now Bahrain is in turmoil. If he turns himself in what will happen to him? We are pretty sure the government will kill him if he returns at this point but he is illegal in the US. Any suggestions?

Kill him? My understanding is that the only people who have been killed were about half a dozen protesters in Pearl Square who happened to be in the wrong place when the government clampdown began. I haven't seen any evidence that any of the dead or wounded were identified by the government and targeted for assassination. They were just the unlucky ones in a group of thousands of protesters. Is he a Shia? Has he been actively campaigning against the Bahraini government while in the US? A vitriolic anti-Bahraini blog, perhaps?

He's already been deported. Bahrain is one of the United State's closest allies in the middle east, and critical to US policy to counterbalance Iran - it's the host to the US Navy's 5th fleet. In order to grant him asylum the US government would have to admit that one of it's closest allies is likely to assassinate him. I personally think the US is going to tread more lightly with Bahrain than they did with Egypt. I doubt they'll risk a diplomatic row over one Bahraini citizen who claims he'll suffer persecution if he's returned, especially after he's already been deported.

Also, he doesn't have to return to Bahrain. He can go to any country that will accept him, including countries that don't have such close diplomatic ties to Bahrain as the US, and might be willing to entertain his claim for asylum. It's a big world, and Bahrain is a tiny country. He has a lot more options than only the US or Bahrain.

[Haarp425 26]

I have a friend who was deported. His date to leave the country was 1/11/11. He is still here and now Bahrain is in turmoil. If he turns himself in what will happen to him? We are pretty sure the government will kill him if he returns at this point but he is illegal in the US. Any suggestions?

I would assume your friend had a valid visa to begin with and expired 1/11/11. He could have adjusted to F-1 visa (student) before your friend's visa expired. With F-1 visa, the F-1 visa holder can apply for an EAD but with restrictions/limited work hours. However, I would suggest to talk to an immigration lawyer. Some immigration lawyer does not charge for 1 hour consulations and some charges $100 or so for 1 hour consulations regarding immigration issues and again there is an attorney-client privilege.

I think if you talk to an immigration authority about someone's status who are here illegally in the US, the immigration personnel might have to act on it. You as a friend of your illegal friend might be asked questions yourself by the immigration authority and who knows what will happen next. I suggest going to an immigration attorney at this point to give your friend legal advice and options.