President-elect Donald Trump has threatened to deport immigrants in large numbers once he assumes office, regardless of their legal status. He has also vowed to revoke existing immigration statuses and reverse many of the policies implemented by the Biden administration.
In response, local advocacy groups are preparing for the possibility of swift and sweeping changes. These organizations are taking proactive steps, such as securing housing for migrants and distributing information about immigrants’ rights to help protect them.
Patricia Montes, executive director of the immigrant rights group Centro Presente, explained that such efforts are born from the lessons learned during Trump’s first term. “As a movement, we’re always — at the last minute — thinking about: ‘What are we going to do?’” she said. But with just over a month until Trump’s inauguration, these groups are planning ahead to protect immigrants and refugees already in the country.
Preparing for the Unknown
One of the challenges for advocacy groups is the uncertainty of what the new administration will actually do. Many are focusing on providing education to immigrant families at the household level.
“Nothing is off the table,” said Laura Rotolo, field director for the ACLU of Massachusetts. “We’re worried about people losing their status, people losing work authorization, and suddenly being at risk of deportation.”
In response, the ACLU has updated its family-preparedness kit, which was originally created during Trump’s first term. The kit provides practical advice for families, including what to do if a family member is at risk of deportation or if federal immigration agents show up at the door.
The preparation goes beyond legal matters. “Make sure the children have a place to go, that someone will pick them up after school, that banking records are secure, and that your passport is in a safe place,” Rotolo added.
Rising Fear Among Immigrant Communities
The possibility of mass deportation has sparked fear within immigrant communities. Montes acknowledges that while it is unclear if the new administration will have the capacity for widespread deportations, the heightened anti-immigrant rhetoric is contributing to a sense of panic.
“The anti-immigrant rhetoric is stronger right now,” Montes said. “A lot of people are coming to our doors because they are afraid.”
Centro Presente has long offered “know-your-rights” trainings for immigrants, but these sessions have become more frequent and urgent in recent weeks. The Boston Immigrant Justice Accompaniment Network (BIJAN) is also preparing by identifying groups most at risk, such as individuals in or out of immigrant detention, those on bond for non-immigration cases, and people under surveillance with electronic ankle monitors.
“These are the people Trump could target more easily,” said Elizabeth Nguyen, a volunteer with BIJAN. “Folks are focused on understanding what their rights are, especially around whether they have to open the door without a judicial warrant.”
Concerns for Refugees and Temporary Protected Status
Refugee agencies are particularly concerned that the incoming Trump administration will target refugees who have gone through an extensive vetting process. During his first term, Trump significantly cut funding for refugee agencies across the country.
The International Institute of New England (IINE) has been asked by its national office to resettle as many refugees as possible before January 20. Jeffrey Thielman, executive director of IINE, explained that this has required working through weekends and the holidays to assist refugees at airports and coordinate housing.
Thielman’s organization is also working to support migrants, who are a separate group from refugees. “We’re focusing mostly on our humanitarian parolee clients to get them temporary protected status,” he said. “We see this as a potential pathway to keep people here.”
Humanitarian parolees, who make up a large portion of immigrant families currently in emergency shelters, are granted temporary protected status for two years. This status allows them to remain in the U.S. while undergoing background checks. Trump’s advisers have indicated that they will reverse this policy, as they believe it is illegal.
Another status that offers protection is Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which shields individuals from deportation if they are from countries like Haiti, unless they commit a crime. While TPS offers less protection than humanitarian parole, it could last longer—through February 2026. Thielman and other advocates are pushing the Biden administration to extend TPS for Haiti before Trump takes office.
Advocates are also seeking to transition more humanitarian parolees to TPS to buy additional time, particularly for Haitian migrants in Massachusetts who are most at risk.
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