Washington, DC – Immigrant rights groups are preparing for a long battle as President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown plan unfolds.
Trump has made rapid changes to the US immigration system in his first week in office, affecting nearly every aspect of immigration.
Advocates say that while widespread arrests haven’t happened yet, Trump has already caused chaos for refugees seeking safety in the US and instilled fear in immigrant communities.
Vanessa Cardenas, the executive director of America’s Voice, described Trump’s policies as “costly, cruel, and chaotic.”
She emphasized that “the chaos and fear is the point.”
‘Unprecedented powers’
Trump’s administration has issued numerous executive orders and policy changes that establish strict immigration policies.
Nayna Gupta, the policy director for the American Immigration Council, stated that Trump’s actions go beyond arresting immigrants with criminal records.
She highlighted that many of these actions are facing legal challenges.
The policy changes include increased deportations for undocumented immigrants, removal of restrictions on sensitive locations for immigration arrests, and suspension of the US Refugee Program.
‘Utter propaganda’
Immigration advocates are bracing for a promised “mass deportation” campaign from Trump officials.
The recent raid in Newark attracted national attention, with the mayor accusing ICE agents of detaining both undocumented individuals and US citizens without a warrant.
ICE reported making 538 arrests in the first four days of the Trump administration, an increase from the previous administration.
Deportation flights have begun under Trump, but critics point out that they were weekly occurrences under the previous administration.
Prolonged fight
Legal challenges have already been filed against Trump’s immigration policies, with a federal judge blocking the implementation of some orders.
Advocates stress that lawsuits alone are not enough to reform the US immigration system.
They emphasize the importance of listening to those affected by these policies for meaningful change.
Advocacy groups are preparing for more legal battles in the days ahead to challenge the suspension of refugee programs and other controversial immigration policies.
