DES MOINES, Iowa (Gray Media Iowa Capitol Bureau) – As President-elect Donald Trump prepares for his second term, an immigrant advocacy group in Iowa is bracing for what could be the largest deportation operation in U.S. history.
Erica Johnson, Executive Director of the Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice (IMMJ), said the group is anticipating even tougher challenges ahead. “We know he’s learned from his first term, and we are preparing for a worse crisis,” Johnson said.
The Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice is advising undocumented individuals in the state to start making emergency plans. According to the Migration Policy Institute, there are approximately 37,000 undocumented immigrants living in Iowa.
Johnson highlighted the potential impact on families. “Who would pick up your kids from school if you were detained? Who would make medical decisions for your children if you couldn’t be there?” she asked.
President-elect Trump recently named Tom Homan as his “Border Czar,” tasked with overseeing mass deportation efforts. Homan has stated that priority will be given to those considered a threat to public safety and national security. However, he also confirmed that immigration raids at workplaces are set to resume. Iowa has experienced such raids in the past, notably in Postville in 2008 and Mount Pleasant in 2018.
“Most victims of trafficking are found at workplaces—whether in meatpacking plants or massage parlors—where people are forced to work off smuggling fees. That’s where we rescue many trafficking victims,” Homan explained.
In response, the Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice is holding workshops to inform immigrants about their rights. “The U.S. Constitution protects everyone, regardless of immigration status. Everyone has the right to remain silent, the right to an attorney, and people should not sign anything they don’t understand,” Johnson emphasized.
Additionally, the group has established Community Response Teams that will work with schools, churches, and businesses to prepare for potential mass raids. “This is similar to how the Red Cross helps communities prepare for natural disasters like tornadoes,” Johnson said.
The Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice continues to encourage undocumented immigrants to seek legal guidance and prepare for the possibility of future immigration actions.
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