DHS States It Can Initiate Removal Proceedings Against Hong Kong Residents Under DED Program
The Department of Homeland Security indicated it has the authority to begin removal proceedings against individuals with temporary administrative designations, following reports of Hong Kong residents under the Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) program being detained at local airports.
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According to the South China Morning Post, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that it is not prohibited from initiating removal proceedings against aliens who hold a temporary administrative designation, and that it is not currently removing such individuals. This statement came in response to a report by the US media outlet Politico, which indicated that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents had detained at least twelve Hong Kong residents who were under the DED program at local airports.
A spokesperson for the department told the South China Morning Post on Sunday evening that the DHS is not precluded from placing aliens with such a temporary administrative designation into removal proceedings, nor is it presently removing them. The department also noted that having a pending application or work authorization does not grant legal status within the United States.
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