U.S.-Born Physician Mistakenly Ordered to Leave the Country by Federal Immigration Authorities
Dr. Lisa Anderson, a physician from Cromwell, Connecticut, has expressed concern after receiving an unexpected and alarming message from federal immigration officials instructing her to leave the United States. Anderson, who was born in Pennsylvania and holds U.S. citizenship, reported that she was contacted by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with a directive stating, “It is time for you to leave the United States.”
The message comes amid ongoing efforts by immigration authorities to encourage voluntary departures—also known as “self-deportation”—among individuals lacking lawful immigration status. However, Dr. Anderson’s case has raised significant concern, given her status as a natural-born citizen.
Describing the tone of the message, Anderson said it felt “threatening,” particularly for anyone to whom it might rightfully apply.
A senior official at DHS clarified that such notices are intended only for noncitizens without legal authorization to remain in the U.S. However, in some cases, if a noncitizen mistakenly lists a citizen’s contact information—such as an email address—messages may inadvertently be sent to unintended recipients. Officials stated that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is currently monitoring these communications and will handle such errors individually.
In a statement underscoring the agency’s broader stance, DHS reiterated: “If you are an alien, being in the United States is a privilege — not a right. We are acting in the best interest of the country and enforcing the law accordingly.”
Dr. Anderson’s experience closely follows a similar incident involving a Boston-based immigration attorney, Nicole Micheroni, who also received an erroneous deportation notice despite being a U.S. citizen. Micheroni has not received any further communication from DHS as of this week.
Emphasizing her lack of involvement with immigration matters, Anderson stated that she is now carrying her U.S. passport with her at all times as a precaution and is seeking legal counsel.
Her primary concern is that others in similar circumstances may overlook or dismiss such messages, potentially unaware that their information has been mistakenly flagged. “It does make me concerned there’re a lot more people out there like me who probably also thought this was spam, who probably didn’t realize, ‘I have a problem,’” she said.
