Dr. Lisa Anderson, a physician born in the United States, recently received an email from federal immigration authorities instructing her to leave the country immediately. Anderson, who hails from Cromwell, Connecticut, expressed her shock when she received a letter from the Department of Homeland Security stating, “It is time for you to leave the United States.” Despite the push for noncitizens to self-deport, Anderson, aged 58 and a U.S. citizen born in Pennsylvania, found the language in the email threatening. A senior DHS official explained that such notices are being sent to individuals without lawful status to remain in the country, and any unintended recipients are being addressed on a case-by-case basis. The official emphasized that being in the U.S. is a privilege for aliens, not a right, and that the enforcement of immigration laws is in the best interest of the nation. Anderson, who carries her U.S. passport at all times, has sought legal advice after receiving the email and expressed concern for others who may have received similar communications but dismissed them as spam.
