Iraqi Christians arrested in the US

Dozens of people, predominantly Iraqi Chaldean Christians, have been detained in or near Detroit in what seems to be a bid by US officials to clear a back-log of immigrants facing deportations.

Local Chaldean American educational and community leader Nathan Kalasho told Associated Press the arrests on Sunday were particularly concerning, given Iraqi Christians have been designated genocide victims.

He said: "Who could think that this deal could possibly be good? ...some of these people have spent nearly their entire lives here and some have committed minor offenses. They've paid their debt to society."

The US Department for Homeland Security said also those Chaldean Christians who were arrested had criminal convictions for offences including murder, rape and assault.

The American Civil Liberties Union's Immigrants' Rights Project said the removal orders don't reflect current conditions in Iraq, where hundreds of thousands of people have fled conflict.

Deputy Director at the Project, Judy Rabinovitz, was quoted by Associated Press as saying: "Anyone with a final order is basically vulnerable at this point.

"The problem is, these aren't cases where these are people who pose a risk to public safety - it's just sort of irrational, low-hanging fruit. Get the numbers, get people out."

The US Department for Homeland Security insisted the deportation orders had been issued following "full and fair" proceedings.

The department previously claimed the removals were able to commence after Iraq agreed to start allowing its citizens back from the US.

Immigrations previously allowed to stay in the US under the prior administration despite having deportation now appear to be the target of the Trump administration.

While the number of Chaldean Christians in Iraq has dwindled, U.S. Longtime demographer Kurt Metzger estimates around 12,000 live in or near the Detroit area.