12 Hong Kong residents detained by US for up to two months

The United States has reportedly detained at least 12 Hong Kong residents in recent months who were legally residing in the US. Periods of detention ranging from 10 days to two months.

Politico, a US political news website, reported that since June, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement , or ICE, has detained at least 12 Hong Kong residents at local airports.

Under a directive from the Biden administration, they were granted legal residency and work in the US until February 5th of next year.

However some Hong Kong residents detained at Chicago O'Hare International Airport in July, while preparing to board a flight, claimed that ICE threatened them with months of imprisonment

if they did not sign voluntary departure documents.

The Department of Homeland Security issued a statement indicating that the measures allow Hong Kong residents to work in the US but do not grant them legal status in the US,

and emphasised that authorities can initiate deportation proceedings against foreigners holding such permits.

The report citing sources indicates that the 12 Hong Kong residents arrested have been released but remain subject to electronic ankle bracelets and travel restrictions.