Oklahoma immigration attorney urges public to know their rights

President Trump’s immigration policies have sparked fear and uncertainty for many undocumented immigrants, including those living in Oklahoma. Immigration Attorney Melissa Luhan is educating her clients and the public on how to protect themselves.

“There's a constitution still and constitutional rights apply,” Luhan said.

She encourages everyone, regardless of their immigration status, to be aware of their rights in case they are confronted by immigration officers.

“You should not let law enforcement come into your house without a judicial warrant you should not answer questions past your name and date of birth without a lawyer present those are all rights that everybody has.”

Despite Lujan’s reassurance, many undocumented individuals remain anxious as the Trump administration ramps up its immigration operations. Over the past weekend alone, nearly 1,000 people were arrested nationwide in connection with immigration violations. However, Lujan explains that such actions are not necessarily immediate deportations.

“A plane to Colombia or a plane to Mexico doesn’t mean they’ve rounded people up on the street and deported them immediately,” she says. “What it means is that, for the past several weeks, or even months, ICE has been working on deporting individuals who were already on their radar.”

Last week, the Trump administration announced plans to allow federal immigration agencies to make arrests at schools, churches, and hospitals. State Superintendent Ryan Walters publicly endorsed ICE raids in schools, further heightening concerns among immigrant families. However, Lujan doesn't foresee this as an immediate threat, particularly when it comes to schools and churches.

“They don't have this broad authority to just walk up and grab people because they think they look like immigrants it doesn't work that way there's a legal process they go through,” Lujan said. “They can't walk into the church shut the doors and say show me your papers or you can't leave that would be a violation of the 14th amendment.”

Lujan also points out that even if someone is arrested, that does not mean they will automatically be deported. Individuals who are detained still have the right to challenge their deportation in immigration court.