With just 68 days remaining until President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration, dozens of immigrant rights organizations are taking action to protect undocumented individuals. These groups are preparing for the possibility that Trump will follow through on his campaign promise to carry out the largest deportation effort in U.S. history.
Since his election, Trump has repeatedly stated his intention to ramp up immigration enforcement, and he has selected several Cabinet members with strong anti-immigrant stances. As a result, immigrant rights groups are working to organize communities and push for protective measures to shield undocumented workers and families from mass deportations.
What You Need to Know:
Immigrant rights groups are mobilizing to protect undocumented individuals in light of Trump’s plans for large-scale deportations.
Trump has indicated that he intends to lead the largest deportation effort in U.S. history and has appointed anti-immigrant Cabinet members.
These groups are focusing on student activism, workplace protections, and engaging with local officials to ensure the safety of undocumented individuals.
Organizations are focused on several key priorities, including mobilizing students, advocating for workplace protections, and working with governors and mayors across the country to implement safeguards. In addition, they are lobbying the Biden administration to establish Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for vulnerable individuals and to ensure due process for those held in immigration detention.
“We take President-elect Trump at his word that mass detention and deportations are coming, and they will be widespread and indiscriminate,” said Shayne Kessler, Director of the Advancing Universal Representation Institute (AURI). The group is working to strengthen a network of governments, legal service providers, and advocates to help immigrants facing deportation.
AURI is one of many organizations banding together to educate undocumented people, mobilize resources, and push lawmakers for stronger protections. With an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the U.S., these efforts have gained urgency.
A Call for Action
Greisa Martinez Rosas, Executive Director of United We Dream Action, the largest network of immigrant youth in the U.S., called on elected officials to reject Trump’s deportation plans and to stand with immigrants. She stressed that the movement requires a shift in politics and a strong collective response from communities.
Martinez Rosas also urged the Biden administration to use its remaining time in office to pass TPS, which would allow undocumented individuals to live and work in the U.S. if it is unsafe for them to return to their home countries. Additionally, she called for protections for people currently detained in ICE facilities, where nearly 37,000 people are being held.
“There’s cause to fear,” said Martinez Rosas, an undocumented immigrant herself. She emphasized the importance of standing together in the face of uncertainty, urging individuals to find courage and act.
Martinez Rosas, who is protected under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, noted that the threat of deportation looms over many families. DACA, which was implemented in 2012 during the Obama administration, protects undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children. Trump attempted to end the program during his first term, but its future remains uncertain.
Community Support and Legal Rights
Other advocacy groups, like the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), are educating immigrants about their legal rights, including the right to remain silent if questioned about their immigration status by authorities.
“Under Trump’s last administration, we witnessed raids in our communities, and families came to us seeking help after loved ones were detained,” said Areli Hernandez, Executive Affairs Director at CHIRLA. “It’s a real threat, and we saw it firsthand. Immigrants are the first target, but we know others could be next.”
As immigrant rights groups prepare for the potential escalation of enforcement actions, they are calling on a broad coalition of allies—faith groups, labor organizations, communities of color, LGBTQ+ groups, and women’s rights organizations—to stand in solidarity with immigrants during this critical time.
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