Guan Lee, MD, left Malaysia as a teenager and has spent the last 20-plus years in the U.S., obtaining her medical degree and starting her own practice in Minnesota. She has faced the threat of deportation since 2009.
According to Dr. Lee’s attorney, Dr. Lee, 41, was “a step removed” from obtaining U.S. citizenship in 2009 after she completed a background check and passed the English and civics exams. However, instead of completing the final step — taking the oath of allegiance — Dr. Lee received a notice from U.S. immigration authorities denying her application. The notice also informed her the U.S. would begin deportation proceedings against her, the PostBulletin reports.
In a statement to the PostBulletin last week, a spokesperson for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, said Dr. Lee “overstayed her lawful visit by several years.”
“[Dr.] Lee is a citizen of Malaysia who entered the U.S. legally in 1992, but overstayed her lawful visit by several years. In the years since, she has pursued several avenues of relief, but ultimately exhausted each. She was granted voluntary departure by a federal immigration judge in 2011, but failed to leave, automatically changing that grant to a final order of removal … Since then, in an act of discretion, ICE has granted her several stays of removal and has not placed her in custody.”
The statement continued: “However, if [Dr. Lee] fails to comply with the removal order to leave the U.S., she will be listed as an ICE fugitive, subject to arrest and removal, in accordance with U.S. law.”
Dr. Lee initially sought to obtain a green card or permanent residency in 2004 after she graduated from medical school, but the petition was denied. Her subsequent appeal was also denied.
However, in dismissing Dr. Lee’s appeal, federal officials gave her “confusing instructions that gave her a sense of hope,” Dr. Lee’s lawyer told the PostBulletin. Federal officials reportedly told Dr. Lee her case would undergo “further process and review,” indicating her case was still in progress.
Dr. Lee’s lawyer said after some time, Dr. Lee pursued naturalized citizenship. She believed the option was open to her because officials had previously referred her to the online application for naturalization during one of her check-ins. However, officials did not accurately convey to Dr. Lee she was ineligible for naturalization because she was not a permanent resident of the U.S., the report states.
Under several directives issued by President Donald Trump, ICE declined to grant Dr. Lee any additional stays to extend her time in the U.S. in May.
To prevent Dr. Lee’s deportation, community members created a petition urging the government to step in and allow Dr. Lee to remain in the U.S. The petition has received 1,700-plus signatures as of Oct. 16, according to the report.
More articles on hospital-physician relationships:
12 Westchester Medical Center staff enter NYC Marathon to raise money for health system
Why a retired South Dakota surgeon is surrendering his medical license
Florida physician caught on video cursing, yelling at patient issues apology
At the Becker's 11th Annual IT + Revenue Cycle Conference: The Future of AI & Digital Health, taking place September 14–17 in Chicago, healthcare executives and digital leaders from across the country will come together to explore how AI, interoperability, cybersecurity, and revenue cycle innovation are transforming care delivery, strengthening financial performance, and driving the next era of digital health. Apply for complimentary registration now.
