Family Separation as Deportation Tactic Returns

In a disturbing resurgence of a practice that once sparked global outrage, family separation as deportation tactic is being used again under the Trump administration. The New York Times reports several cases where immigrant parents, including Russian and Indian asylum seekers, were forced to choose between deportation with their children or remaining detained while their children were taken away.

One such case involves Evgeny and Evgeniia, a Russian couple seeking asylum who refused deportation due to fears of persecution. Their 8-year-old son Maksim was forcibly separated and placed in a shelter, while the couple remained in ICE detention. ICE cited “interior enforcement separation” as justification—distancing the policy from the previous border-focused separations blocked under a legal settlement.

Why Use Family Separation As a Deportation Tactic?

Unlike the sweeping “zero tolerance” policy of this administration's first term, the current use of family separation as deportation tactic appears selective, targeting families who defy deportation orders. ICE insists these families “choose” separation by refusing lawful orders, but critics argue this framing is misleading and coercive.

Legal experts and former officials confirm that prior administrations avoided separation as a form of enforcement. Alternatives like ankle monitors were standard. Under Trump’s renewed approach, the tactic is reemerging with quieter but no less devastating consequences for families who fear death or imprisonment if returned to their home countries.

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Impact on Immigrant Communities

This quiet revival of family separation as deportation tactic threatens to sow fear and confusion among immigrant communities. Parents face impossible decisions: accept deportation and risk persecution, or stay and endure separation from their children. Children, like Maksim, experience trauma that may linger for life. Trust in the immigration system further erodes, especially when families who pass protection screenings still remain in detention with no clear path forward.

Shan Potts Law Offices Perspective

At Shan Potts Law Offices, we condemn the return of family separation as deportation tactic. We believe every family deserves due process, dignity, and humane treatment—especially those fleeing regimes where they risk imprisonment or worse. Our attorneys have worked with numerous asylum seekers and have seen firsthand the irreparable harm caused by forced separations.

We urge the Department of Homeland Security to respect legal protections, including those granted through protection screenings, and to end this practice before it becomes a widespread policy again.

Next Steps for Families

• Know your rights: Families facing deportation must consult with experienced immigration attorneys immediately.

• File emergency motions: In cases involving protection screening approvals, legal filings can prevent removal or separation.

• Demand accountability: Public pressure and legal action are critical to challenge family separation as deportation tactic.

• Stay informed: Join community networks and follow trusted immigration law sources.

If you or someone you know is facing removal, contact Shan Potts Law Offices today for a confidential consultation. We are here to fight for your family’s future.

(Source: New York Times)