Lexington Immigration Attorney talks new executive orders and ICE

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) — Heather Hadi, has been practicing law in the city of Lexington for over a decade, and the recent signing of executive orders, have kept her busy at the office.

“We’re not advocating for people to be scared. We’re not trying to stoke the fire, what we want is for people to understand,” adds Hadi.

President Donald Trump was sworn into office on Monday, and as promised in his campaign, he’s taken sharp aim at cracking down on immigration.

Hadi says many clients are preparing in the event of the worst case scenario, she says many have requested power of attorneys to protect their children.
She says in the event that ice does come knocking on your door, “we do have constitutional protections, whether you’re legal or not, you’re still a human being. And so then you have to make sure you understand if they’re at the door, what requires me to open the door, and that would be a signed warrant with your name signed by a judge.”

She also says she expects to see a long legal battle with the executive action regarding birthright citizenship.

“You’re not helpless, and I feel like that’s kind of what we’re seeing in the community. They’re feeling helpless, but there’s so many people here that are advocating for them and there’s so many ways to be ready in the event that they have a situation with ICE or with law enforcement,” she said.

Meantime Fayette County Public Schools have also sent out a statement regarding the executive order from the president,

“Dear Fayette County Public School families, we recognize the growing fear and uncertainty due to ongoing national discussions about changes to immigration policies.

FCPS maintains its steadfast commitment to fostering safe and supportive environments for all students and staff. We believe all students deserve the opportunity to learn without fear and to feel valued and respected as members of our school community.

As educators and district leaders, FCPS prioritizes the well-being of our students and staff—mentally, physically, and emotionally. We are focused on ensuring every child has access to a safe learning environment where they can thrive without fear.

While we recognize our diverse community includes a range of perspectives and beliefs, we are united in our efforts to protect the safety of every child and staff member.

We will continue to monitor any changes in federal and state laws and directives closely and keep all lines of communication open between home and school.

In times of uncertainty, it is more important than ever to lean on the strength of our community.

Together we can ensure our students feel supported by a school community that upholds hope, dignity, and compassion for all.” — Demetrus Liggins, Ph.D, FCPS Superintendent

Hadi says she wishes she could see more involvement from local government, “some of the responses and reactions, you know, to people advocating for immigrants here in Lexington by local government officials has really been disappointing.”