South Carolina lawyers see hike in immigration-related requests

HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) — Immigration lawyers in South Carolina say they’re busy after the Trump administration’s order to deport illegal immigrants. 

Attorneys say many people are worried about what this means if they go to school, church or visit a hospital.  

Lowcountry immigration lawyer Ross Miller says his office now gets hundreds of calls a week seeking guidance on what to do if an ICE agent shows up at their door. 

On top of that, he says with so many executive orders from the White House, it’s hard to keep up.  

“It’s difficult, it’s unsettling and a lot of people are scared,” Miller said.

With deportations on the rise, families are looking for ways to prepare. 

Immigration lawyer Ross Miller says the biggest advice he has, is if an ICE agent confronts you with a warrant, take a close look at who signed it. 

He says sometimes agents will sign it, but really it needs to be signed off by a judge.  

“People need to be aware of this,” Miller said. “They need to make their children aware of this. If and when they answer the door so that these agents cannot unlawfully enter and search the home.” 

Miller says agents can enter schools, churches, hospitals and your home if they do have a judge-signed warrant. 

He also says to prepare a power of attorney to keep your kids safe until there’s a long-term solution. 

And if you have a pending asylum case, keep a receipt on you at all times which could influence whether you’re detained or not. 

But for those under supervision with a stay of deportation, Miller says they’re not safe either. 

“With that deportation order, they are subject to deportation at any time without a hearing,” he said 

Attorney General Alan Wilson recently urged sheriffs across the state to partner with ICE under its “287-g” program. 

As of Dec. 2024, ICE reports the Horry County Sheriff’s Office is one of three departments in the state to enroll in this program. 

They did so in 2020, but only to identify and process immigrants with criminal charges. 

News13 asked Horry County Police if it plans to enroll, and it said cannot. The program is aimed at departments with a jail or warrant service, which falls under the Horry County Sheriff’s Office. 

“It’s a fluid situation,” he said. “People need to, you know, do their research almost daily to see what, if anything, has changed as far as ICE directives and policies and guidelines go.”  

Miller says he believes he’s received so many calls because there’s a shortage of immigration lawyers in Horry County.  

More than 41,000 people are in ICE custody.