PETALING JAYA: Malaysians are not being targeted by Donald Trump’s administration in its crackdown on undocumented migrants in major cities across the United States, says Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz (pic).
The Ambassador of Malaysia to the United States said the move is expected since the day Trump took office last month.
“What is happening now should not come as a surprise.
“The main thing we have to remember is that the crackdown is only for illegal immigrants.
“Those with proper documents will not be deported,” he told The Star yesterday.
According to Nazri, the move has been ongoing and not targeted towards any particular country or countries.
“Hundreds of illegal migrants, including those from Central American countries, have been deported, action has been taken,” he said.
Nazri added that the Malaysia Association of America (MAA) had spoken to him about how they had given legal assistance to Malaysians facing documentation issues.
“Those Malaysians will normally contact MAA to get legal advice through their lawyers on what to do if they are affected.
“I have told them that I cannot be directly involved as I respect the laws of the US,” he said.
Earlier, Wisma Putra said Malaysia’s Embassy in Washington has not received any formal notification from the US authorities regarding claims that approximately 435 Malaysians have been issued final deportation orders.
The Foreign Ministry said it is aware of the report regarding Malaysian nationals allegedly facing deportation under strict immigration policies, adding that they had yet to receive any official requests for consular assistance from the affected Malaysians.
“The embassy and our consulates in the US remain in close contact with the relevant authorities and continue to engage with the Malaysian community to ensure their well-being and compliance with immigration regulations. We will provide updates,” said Wisma Putra in a statement yesterday.
The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said a total of 435 Malaysians are among the 1.44 million non-American citizens who have received final deportation orders.
According to data from ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) released in November last year, 435 Malaysians are currently listed on ICE’s non-detained docket with final removal orders.
This places Malaysia in the mid-range of countries affected by the deportations.
The data has gained significant attention online following the return of Trump to the White House this month, as his administration intensifies immigration enforcement efforts.
The agency has urged governments to confirm citizenship, issue travel documents promptly and accept deportees via commercial or chartered flights.
Failure to comply may result in a country being classified as uncooperative or at risk of non-compliance.
Currently, 15 countries, including China, India and Pakistan, are listed as uncooperative, while 11 others, such as Vietnam and Iraq, are considered at risk.
Since Trump took office on Jan 20, there have been raids in major cities including Chicago, New York, Denver and Los Angeles.
