The situation in California had been difficult enough for immigrants to the U.S., whether legal or illegal with ICE agents moving swiftly to detain more individuals and families than ever before. The Trump administration had adopted a strict stance for immigrants from Central and South America with the border with Mexico an area of complex issues for local, state, and federal agencies alike. Jean Danhong Chen has been working in the immigration sector for many years with her membership in the American Immigration Lawyers Association stretching across two decades. For Danhong Chen and her team, the closure of U.S. borders is causing major issues across a range of legal areas.

The decision to close U.S, borders in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic came at a time when the immigration services were already struggling to meet its demands to process citizenship forms, according to The Global Dispatch. For Jean Danhong Chen, the added problems for the immigration services of the closure of U.S. borders will continue to be felt long after the pandemic numbers return to normal. 

In terms of those who are already looking to have their immigration cases heard, the anecdotal evidence shows a large amount of fear and confusion about what is happening. In the state of California, where the pandemic has been reaching record highs in mid-July, the issue of immigration is often secondary to simply avoiding exposure to the virus. The March closure of the borders of the U.S. left a major problem for many immigrants from different areas who could no longer return home. Reports stated this was not a major problem for the majority of those in California because they had not intended to risk exposure to the virus by leaving the nation. 

Unhappiness and fear had crept into the Mexican community early in the pandemic when Mexican President Lopez Obrador revealed his protection from COVID-19 were two religious medals carried in his pocket. Political commentators across Mexico had been torn between praising the President for his confident approach to the virus but were concerned his message was confusing to the public. The issue of understanding what is the best response to the COVID-19 crisis was a difficult one for many with borders around the world closing for the first time since World War Two, in some cases. The European Union closed its borders within the political region despite the open borders agreement that exists between its members.

Jean Danhong Chen reveals the concern regarding the closure of borders has led to a range of other issues being brought to the attention of lawyers specializing in these areas. The battles taking place over COVID-19 include those relating to how certain cases are being handled with many pointing to a change in policy for those patrolling the Californian border with Mexico. The border is a difficult area for those patrolling the region that will have even greater problems in the coming months as reports come in of those crossing over the border between ports of entry being immediately returned to Mexico. 

This is a difficult option for the majority of immigrants with the majority of nations looking to enforce quarantine rules that include 14 days. Salem News reports Chinese nationals arriving in the majority of countries have been subject to a 14-day quarantine rule that will make it difficult for immediate returns to be made. There is some question over the legality of the capture and return policy being implemented by Border Patrol professionals throughout the State of California.

Along with the problems caused by the decision to return the majority of those newly caught trying to enter the state of California from Mexico, the other problem is the sheer number of undocumented immigrants being captured by ICE. Adding to the problems being seen by Jean Danhong Chen is the closure of borders with the majority of those who are being held for deportation having no way of leaving the nation. Closing the borders of the U.S> with Mexico and other nations in Latin America means the holding areas for those about to be deported are overflowing with people. The closure of the USCIS offices is having an impact on how immigration lawyers are able to handle cases to have a positive impact on their cases. The Attorney General of California is leading the court challenge against the U.S. Government in a bid to keep student visas active regardless of the classes being taken.

The focus is often placed on the issue of Latin American immigrants arriving in the U.S. However, another issue that has been highlighted for Jean Danhong Chen during the pandemic has been the growing problem of Chinese immigrants being barred from entry to the U.S. because of their association with the arrival of COVID-19. Alongside those who are looking to make their way to the U.S. to work and live, the problem of foreign students is a growing one for immigration lawyers. The initial lockdown in the SPring in California came with a call for those usually prohibited from taking online-only classes because of a visa to be allowed to remain. The Trump Administration has since changed its stance and plans to refuse visas to those who are not taking face-to-face classes in a troubling change of policy.