Boston, MA — In a disconcerting mix-up, Nicole Micheroni, a Massachusetts-born immigration attorney and U.S. citizen, received a federal notice on Friday erroneously instructing her to leave the United States. Micheroni, associated with the Boston law firm Cameron Micheroni & Silvia, initially considered the email might be intended for one of her clients. Upon closer inspection, it became clear the directive was inexplicably aimed at her.
The email from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security starkly advised Micheroni that her time in the U.S. was up, giving her just seven days to exit the country, although she is a citizen. Her initial reaction was shared on Bluesky, expressing hope that the notice was sent in error but also voicing her concerns about such messages being dispatched to citizens.
Micheroni, aged 40, described the message as appearing more like a spam email rather than an official government correspondence, adding to her initial skepticism about its legitimacy. Despite its unofficial appearance, the notice was indeed real, though mistakenly sent.
The attorney discussed her fears with NBC Boston, expressing alarm over the directness and the implications of receiving such a notice. She speculated on social media about acquiring Italian citizenship through her great-grandparents, attempting to inject humor into the unsettling situation.
The notice warned that failure to depart the U.S. could lead to law enforcement action and subsequent removal from the country. This language only added to the threatening tone of the erroneous email. Micheroni stated to NBC Boston that she does not plan to reach out to Homeland Security, attributing the incident to a mere administrative error.
A statement provided to MassLive by a senior DHS official explained that Customs and Border Protection has been sending parole termination notices to individuals without lawful status. Furthermore, emails might have been sent to unintended recipients if a non-personal email was provided inadvertently by the individuals concerned. DHS assured that they are monitoring communications to address such mismatches on a case-by-case basis.
The alarm caused by Micheroni’s case surfaces amid broader immigration enforcement initiatives, particularly concerning migrants who had entered the U.S. with the use of the CBP One app since January 2023. This application facilitated the scheduling of legal entry appointments at U.S. ports rather than illegal border crossings.
The issue of parole cancellation impacts migrants predominantly from countries like Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, highlighted by a federal judge’s recent intervention to prevent the administration from ordering the departure of over half a million migrants with temporary legal status.
Micheroni’s ordeal underscores the broader narrative of immigration policy and enforcement issues in the U.S., highlighting the human errors that can exacerbate the anxieties surrounding immigration laws and their enforcement.
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