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?401 EUEIS

September 11, 2019

Mr. Matthew T. Albence

Acting Director

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement
500 12th St., SW

Washington, DC. 20536

Dear Mr. Albence:

w? write regarding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement?s (ICE) use of bait and switch
tactics to arrest immigrants that are attending interviews as part of their lawful immigration
process related to their marriage to a U.S. citizen at the Baltimore U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services (USCIS) of?ce. We request that ICE immediately cease this predatory bait
and switch practice that prevents immigrants from accessing the legal immigration process and
cruelly separates families.

Immigrants targeted at the Baltimore ICE of?ce were seeking to utilize a stateside waiver
process that allows the spouse of a U.S. citizen who is currently in the United States to obtain a
green card without a prolonged years-long separation. During interviews in which USCIS
veri?es the legitimacy of the marriage,- detained immigrants at the Baltimore USCIS of?ce.

Courts have criticized use of this bait and switch measure as a means for arresting
immigrants. U.S. District Judge George J. Hazel of Maryland ruled that Wanrong Lin of
Maryland, who ICE deported to China utilizing this bait and switch practice, had to be returned
to the United States and prevented ICE from deporting him while his case was still outstanding.
In May, Judge Hazel found, in the case of Mr. Lin, that allow removal under these
circumstances would permit the government to erect an impenetrable barrier to completion of the
provisional waiver process and, indeed, to use it as a trap for unsuspecting applicants.?l

It is concerning that ICE and USCIS appear to be coordinating to arrest immigrants attending
marriage interviews at USCIS of?ces. Please provide any policies, memorandums, agreements,
or guidance between ICE and USCIS related to this practice. We also urge you to immediately
stop using this abusive bait and switch tactic in Baltimore and around the country to allow
immigrants access to the legal immigration process and prevent families from being separated.

salt. - 

Elij E. Cummings C. A. Dutch Ruppers erger P. Sarbanes
Me ber of Congress Member of Congress ember of Congress

 

 

 

 

Wanrong Lin et a} Kirstjen Nielsen et a2, GJH-18-3548, Slip Op., 9-10 (May 2, 2019).

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