Fake DHS Letter Tells Chelsea Residents To Leave U.S.

CHELSEA, MA — A letter circulating around Chelsea telling residents to leave the country is not from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, police said. Chelsea Police Chief Brian Kyes shared a picture of the letter on Twitter Thursday, stating that Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the DHS have confirmed it is fraudulent.

The letter claims that DHS is "aware of your unlawful presence and employment in this country," alleging that recipients are under surveillance at their homes and workplaces. Recipients were threatened with extraction by a "swat (sic) team" if they did not leave by Oct. 31.

The letter gives several reasons for the government initiating removal proceedings, including entering the country without a visa or being checked by an immigration officer, illegal employment, tax evasion, false citizenship claims and falsification of documents to drive a vehicle.

"If you receive a document similar to the one pictured below please DISREGARD," Kyes tweeted.
"This was NOT sent from the Department of Homeland Security in Burlington."

ICE did not immediately respond to a Patch request for comment. A spokesperson for the agency told Boston.com the letter was not sent by ICE and uses language that is "not the type of language that is contained in official agency notifications/correspondence on removals."