TOLEDO, Ohio — A Toledo man who has lived in the U.S. for more than 30 years after immigrating from China fears he could be one of the millions of immigrants President-elect Donald Trump threatens to deport in his upcoming administration.
Wei Zheng says the possibility of deportation is especially scary because it may force him to leave his American wife and children behind.
“They can’t live without me. I can’t live without them,” Zheng said.
His children Ting, Kaylin and Angie Zheng are also concerned about their father being deported.
“If my dad were to be deported, it would tear our entire family apart,” Kaylin said.
Zheng arrived in the U.S. from China at age 17 and got a B2 visa. He overstayed his visa and has since lived in the country without legal status.
Over the years, he has worked as an electrician and owned local restaurants.
Despite applying for green cards and other visas, he said complications have blocked his path to legal residency.
“Every time I try to get my legal paper right, I always got denied,” he explained.
Zheng has been under a final deportation order for 15 years, regularly checking in with Immigration and Customs Enforcement through order of supervision.
His attorney, Michael Piston, said he's seen a rise in calls as Trump's inauguration nears. He noted the deportation process for those without a final order can take years.
“We tell the people who do not have orders of removal that their concerns are pre-mature because they cannot be removed unless they have a final order of removal,” Piston said.
However, he says it is very possible for immigrants like Zheng who have final deportation orders to be removed.
"I would say put your affairs in order because it is quite possible that you will be removed, and in many cases, there will be nothing that can be done about that," Piston said.
Trump has pledged mass deportations, prioritizing criminals. While Zheng does not fall into that category, the rhetoric has left his family deeply unsettled.
“Please look at every case differently," Zheng said. "Not to close your eyes and say zero tolerance.”
Legal resources and support are available for those facing similar challenges. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has several resources on its website.