Key facts
- US authorities may deport Hong Kong residents with Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) status.
- At least a dozen Hong Kong citizens have been detained at US airports since June.
- Some detainees were allegedly pressured by ICE agents to sign voluntary departure documents.
- The DED protections for Hong Kong residents expire on February 5, 2027.
- The Department of Homeland Security stated that DED does not confer legal status and does not prevent removal proceedings.
U.S. authorities have not ruled out deporting Hong Kong residents who have been granted Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) status, according to a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesman. This statement comes amid reports of at least a dozen individuals being detained at U.S. airports since June. Lawyers representing these individuals allege that some were pressured by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to sign voluntary departure documents, with threats of prolonged detention if they refused.
The DED directive, instituted by President Joe Biden, provides protection for Hong Kong citizens who were active in pro-democracy protests and face potential persecution if returned to Hong Kong. This protection is set to expire on February 5, 2027.
Despite the directive, the DHS maintains that the work authorizations granted to these individuals do not confer legal status in the United States and that the department is not precluded from initiating removal proceedings. DHS has made similar arguments in court, though some judges have ordered the release of detained Hong Kong citizens. Lawyers fear that the DHS is preparing to deport these individuals once their DED protections expire.