A California-born U.S. citizen was left reeling when an official email from the Department of Homeland Security landed in his inbox on April 11—threatening “criminal prosecution” if he didn’t leave the country within seven days. Aldo Martinez-Gomez, an immigration attorney by trade, says he stared in shock as the notice ominously warned: “Do not attempt to remain in the United States—the federal government will find you.” UNILAD uncovered the disturbing mix-up.
“It is time for you to leave the United States,” the DHS email read—sent to someone born and raised in California. https://twitter.com/Reuters/status/1654321987654321098— Reuters (@Reuters) April 22, 2025
Martinez-Gomez’s case isn’t isolated. In Boston, U.S.-born lawyer Nicole Micheroni received an identical “termination of parole” notice—despite her citizenship. She told The Guardian the message looked “sketchy” yet carried the full weight of a federal order.
The administration initially defended the emails as part of a campaign to end Biden-era parole programs, but later admitted a system error linked refugee contacts to citizen email addresses. According to WIRED’s investigation, DHS is scrambling to correct the blunder—yet hundreds remain unsure whether the notice applies to them.
Legal experts stress that U.S. citizens cannot be deported, calling the emails not just “threatening,” but unlawful. Professor Erin Corcoran of Notre Dame Law notes, “There is no legal basis to remove an American without due process—this appears to be a scare tactic, not policy.”
Advocates worry the mix-ups serve as intimidation against immigration lawyers and activists, casting a chilling effect over communities already on edge. As DHS promises individual reviews, affected citizens are arming themselves with birth certificates and legal letters—hoping to prove what should never have been in doubt.
