Fact Check: "Trump's immigration policies target long-compliant immigrants like Kashanian."
What We Know
Mandonna “Donna” Kashanian, a 64-year-old Iranian immigrant, has lived in the United States for 47 years. She arrived on a student visa in 1978 and applied for asylum due to fears of persecution related to her father's support of the U.S.-backed shah of Iran. Although her asylum application was denied, she was allowed to stay in the U.S. under the condition that she regularly check in with immigration officials, which she did consistently, even during significant events like Hurricane Katrina (AP News). Recently, she was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) while gardening at her home in New Orleans, highlighting a pattern of increased enforcement actions against long-compliant immigrants (AP News).
The Trump administration has been noted for its aggressive immigration policies, which have included deportations of individuals who have been in the U.S. for extended periods, often without any criminal records. Reports indicate that the administration has actively targeted Iranians and other immigrant groups, regardless of their compliance with immigration laws (AP News). This has raised concerns among advocacy groups about the implications for individuals like Kashanian, who have built lives in the U.S. and are not considered threats (AP News).
Analysis
The claim that Trump's immigration policies target long-compliant immigrants is supported by the case of Kashanian and others in similar situations. The evidence suggests that the Trump administration's approach has not only focused on undocumented immigrants but has also extended to those with long-standing ties to the U.S. who have complied with immigration regulations. For instance, Kashanian's case illustrates how individuals who have lived in the U.S. for decades and have contributed to their communities can still face deportation under the current policies (AP News).
Critically assessing the sources, the article from AP News is a credible and reliable source, providing detailed accounts and direct quotes from Kashanian's family and immigration advocates. It highlights the broader context of the Trump administration's immigration policies, which have included a notable increase in deportations of individuals without criminal records, particularly in the wake of geopolitical tensions (AP News).
In contrast, while the New York Times article discusses Trump's shifting stance on immigration, it primarily focuses on the impact of his policies on agricultural workers and does not directly address the targeting of long-compliant immigrants like Kashanian (New York Times). This indicates that while there may be some nuance in Trump's immigration strategy, the overarching trend of targeting long-compliant immigrants is evident.
Conclusion
The claim that "Trump's immigration policies target long-compliant immigrants like Kashanian" is True. The evidence presented through Kashanian's case and the broader context of the Trump administration's immigration enforcement actions supports this assertion. The administration's policies have indeed led to the arrest and potential deportation of individuals who have complied with immigration laws for decades, raising significant concerns about the implications for immigrant communities.
