Riverside County, CA — The day after former President Donald Trump secured a second term in office, a crowd gathered outside the TODEC Legal Center in Riverside County, seeking guidance on how to navigate the uncertainty ahead. Many were legal permanent residents looking to apply for citizenship, while others, including asylum seekers, questioned whether they should leave their homes to avoid deportation.
One woman in the country illegally shared that her children had refused to go to school, fearing she would be detained while they were away. A man reported staying home from his landscaping job out of fear he could be arrested. “It’s all hands on deck right now,” said Luz Gallegos, the center’s executive director. “We have to prepare for the worst.”
Trump has repeatedly made mass deportations and ending temporary legal status for millions of immigrants central to his agenda. His newly appointed “border czar,” Tom Homan, emphasized that the administration would prioritize deporting immigrants who pose a public safety threat and ramp up workplace raids targeting labor and sex trafficking.
“If sanctuary cities don’t want to help us, then get out of the way, because we’re coming,” Homan said on Fox News.
In response, California leaders and immigrant advocacy groups have vowed to defend the state’s progressive policies. Governor Gavin Newsom recently called for a special legislative session to protect California’s immigration laws. State Attorney General Rob Bonta has promised to safeguard the state’s policies in court.
Advocates are urging the Biden administration to take proactive steps, including redesignating certain countries for temporary protected status and fast-tracking pending work permit applications before Trump’s second term begins.
In California, immigrant-rights groups are working to expand programs that offer free legal aid to those facing deportation and lobbying local governments to strengthen sanctuary policies. These efforts are meant to shield immigrants from Trump’s expected policies.
During Trump’s first term, groups held “know your rights” workshops and helped families make contingency plans in case of detention. Many immigrants carried cards outlining their legal rights, such as the right to remain silent and the right to ask for a warrant, while also keeping contact information for rapid-response teams that could assist in case of an arrest.
With a second Trump term looming, groups across California are once again preparing to implement these measures. They aim to strike a balance between being realistic about potential federal actions and avoiding unnecessary panic.
“We take him at his word,” said Angelica Salas, executive director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) in Los Angeles. “We know what’s coming is cruelty and political pain.”
Salas said CHIRLA has already received inquiries from schools, health clinics, and labor unions seeking “know your rights” sessions for their communities. The organization, along with others, is also working to rebuild rapid-response networks to assist immigrants in danger of being detained.
Nana Gyamfi, executive director of the Black Alliance for Just Immigration, expressed concern that Black immigrants, in particular, could face increased racial discrimination under Trump’s policies. She pointed to false claims spread by the Trump campaign, such as accusations that Haitian immigrants were involved in bizarre acts like eating pets, which have fueled negative stereotypes.
“You can tell people are tired,” Gyamfi said. “Because we know as Black people, the hammer comes down on us harder.”
Joao Morales, a 29-year-old immigrant from Nicaragua, moved to Los Angeles in 2023 under a temporary work permit program offered by the Biden administration. Now, with Trump’s re-election, Morales is uncertain about his future in the U.S. and has been attending meetings by the National Day Laborer Organizing Network to teach immigrants how to advocate for their rights.
“With everything he has been saying and everything he plans to do to the migrant community, it’s not looking good,” Morales said. “The most important thing is that we unite.”
However, immigrant advocacy groups are concerned about the cost of these efforts. Providing legal representation and resisting federal policies will be expensive, especially with a more conservative judiciary due to Trump-appointed judges. But many remain resolute in their commitment to fight back.
“We don’t have the courts we had before, but we still have the Constitution, civil rights, and local laws on our side,” said Angelica Salas.
Advocates are also bracing for efforts to expand immigrant detention facilities. Recently, California passed a law giving county health officers the authority to inspect these facilities. However, the GEO Group, which operates most of the state’s detention centers, filed a lawsuit, arguing that such inspections violate constitutional rights.
“We’ve been here before,” said Talia Inlender, deputy director of the UCLA Center for Immigration Law and Policy. “And we know how to fight back.”
For individuals who arrived in the U.S. as children and now hold temporary status under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, a second Trump term raises particular concerns. Edvin Dapcevic, a tech executive and DACA recipient, said Trump’s election has forced him to consider leaving the country. Dapcevic, who has lived in the U.S. since he was 4, said the uncertainty surrounding his status makes him question his future in America, despite having followed the law and contributing to society.
“I don’t have a concrete future in this country,” Dapcevic said. “I’m forced to think about where I could find a permanent home.”
At the TODEC Legal Center in Perris, 23-year-old Marta, also a DACA recipient, voiced similar concerns. She fears losing her job at a restaurant and worries for her parents, who are in the U.S. illegally. During Trump’s first term, the family took steps to protect themselves, including installing tinted window film to prevent immigration agents from seeing into their home.
“The fear of deportation worries us the most,” Marta said. “He started off strong during his first term, and this time I feel like he might come stronger.”
Related topics:
- Ramaswamy Urges Unity, Stands by Trump’s Immigration Plan
- How Trump’s New ‘Border Tsar’ Plans to Tackle Immigration
- Trump’s New Border Czar, Tom Homan, Unveils Bold Immigration Strategy
