Can you get deported while driving a Lyft

I’m home after spending ten days in Los Angeles. Did you miss me? Did you even know I was gone? I didn’t think so. And for those of you who live there and are pissed I didn’t let you know—sorry, maybe next year—but that’s not the point of this story.

I didn’t feel like driving in the ridiculous traffic there, so I spent a lot of time in ride-shares. My first experience began with a ride to Santa Monica, where my driver spent our half-hour together telling me of his struggles to break into the ‘industry.’ Yeah…because I never heard that story in my fifteen years living in the area. Sigh.

But it was the next couple of rides that got me thinking. My next driver was Juan, who told me he was from a small village in Mexico. He explained that doing this was the only way he could make enough money to help his poor family still in Mexico. Admirable!!

My next ride was with a man named Ricardo. When I told him I was from Chicago, he said he was from Venezuela and brought up Ozzie Guillen and Luis Aparicio. Both were shortstops from his home country who played baseball in Chicago with the White Sox.

We didn’t say much afterward, but both drivers got me thinking about their life circumstances. My guess is both came to the United States to make a better life for themselves and their families, not any different than so many others here from those countries.

I also wondered if they were here legally. And if not, were they scared about being caught by ICE every time they picked up a ride? What if they picked up an ICE worker and struck up a similar conversation? Would they be pulled over and asked to show proof they were in the country legally? If they didn’t have it with them, could/would they be arrested? Even if they did have their papers, would that stop them from being arrested?

Before you say this scenario is far-fetched, we’ve already seen arrests made in similar situations. We’ve seen people arrested while eating in restaurants and at grocery stores. I’ve heard of a man being arrested while taking his family to a movie. There has even been an arrest during an elementary school drop-off. If it can happen at those places, why not in a Lyft?

Nothing should surprise anyone because this is life in 2025 America. Keep your eyes open. Beware!!