Importance Score: 80 / 100 🔴
In a startling turn of events, federal authorities reportedly instructed Nicole Micheroni, a Massachusetts-based immigration attorney, to leave the United States within one week. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued what appears to be an erroneous notice of parole termination to the U.S. citizen. As of Tuesday, Micheroni, age 40, stated she had received no further communication regarding the directive, which she believes was sent in error.
Immigration Attorney Receives Confusing Departure Notice
Micheroni, speaking to MSNBC, described the situation as chaotic, stating, “The process is a mess right now. DHS is not being careful.” This statement comes after she received an email, purportedly from the Department of Homeland Security, demanding her departure from the country.
The communication, originating from a no-reply email address, informed Micheroni that her “parole” had been revoked. In immigration law, parole allows non-citizens to enter or stay in the U.S. temporarily. A screenshot of the email shared with NBC Boston detailed the alarming message: “If you do not depart the United States immediately you will be subject to potential law enforcement actions that will result in your removal from the United States.”
Unclear Origins and Content of Notice
According to Micheroni, the notice arrived at her professional email but differed markedly from typical DHS communications concerning her clients. Notably, the message lacked both a recipient name and a case number, adding to her initial skepticism about its legitimacy.
“I kind of laughed at first, and then I was like, wait a minute,” Micheroni recounted, expressing her initial disbelief quickly turning into concern. “This is very concerning.”
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DHS Response and Potential Systemic Issues
The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to requests for comment on Tuesday. However, an official from the department provided a statement to NBC Boston, indicating that Customs and Border Protection (CBP), a separate agency, is issuing parole termination notices to individuals deemed to lack lawful status in the United States.
The official’s statement continued, “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.”
Second Attorney Affected by Similar Notice
Adding weight to concerns of a systemic problem, Carmen Bello, another immigration attorney based in the Boston area and also a U.S. citizen, told NBC Boston she received a similar notice of parole termination, demanding her to leave the country.
Concerns Over Departmental Procedures
Bello criticized the apparent lack of verification in the process: “They’re not even checking if it’s the attorney’s email or the applicant’s email,” she stated, referring to migrants applying for parole. “I think there’s a lack of responsibility on the department on sending the letters like this.” The incidents raise questions about the accuracy and care exercised by federal agencies in their communication and enforcement processes related to immigration.