With just a few weeks left until President-elect Donald Trump assumes office on Jan. 20, and with the looming threat of the "largest deportation operation in American history" continuing to take shape, undocumented immigrants are bracing to potentially leave their life in the U.S. behind and return to their country of origin. But is there anything they can do to prevent this?
Throughout the 2024 general election cycle, the President-elect has promised to deport millions of migrants. Though key logistics of the plan, such as funding, remain largely unanswered, some of Trump's key allies, incoming border czar Tom Homan and incoming deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, are parading through conservative networks to promote their goals.
"President Trump has made it clear we will prioritize public safety threats and national security threats first and that's what the focus would be," Homan said of the deportation plan in an interview on Fox News' "Hannity" program on Nov. 11. "There's thousands of gang members, illegal alien gang members we're going to be looking for. Now, I'm going to say if you're in the country illegally, you shouldn't feel comfortable, absolutely not. I won't feel comfortable."
The Trump camp has promised to push out a list of executive orders on Day 1 of the administration in order to facilitate the mass deportation plans to start right away. But as Washington struggles to implement this ambitious practice, is there anything undocumented migrants can do to protect themselves? In some cases, there might be. Here are some things to keep in mind ahead of Trump's second term.
For some migrants, deportation may be unavoidable
Ellen Sullivan, the owner and an Attorney at Cambridge Immigration Law, a law firm in Massachusetts, warns migrants that in some cases, "there's really nothing that we can do to protect [undocumented immigrants]" particularly due to a lack of defense.
"There are people that are deportable, and they don't have a defense," Sullivan said. "And if they get caught up in the system, they will be deported. And the unfortunate part of that process is that they can also be detained while the process is going on."
She points out that there is a lack of deportation resources across the country, from facilities, to experts to give deportation proceedings. Because of this, she explains, the government is planning on increasing detentions.
"The government is planning on increasing its use of detention as a way to force people to accept deportation instead of having an opportunity to go through defining themselves in court," Sullivan said. "So, you know, there is just an unfortunate reality that people can be deported at any time if they're deportable."
Get your family ready
For families with undocumented members, particularly mixed-status families— usually those with children born in the U.S. to undocumented parents— having a deportation plan ready may be the most adequate way to prepare for a second Trump term.
Luz Marilis Lopez, a clinical professor and immigration expert at Boston University School of Social Work, advises families to put all important documents from each family member— from birth certificates to other forms of identification— and hide it in a safe place in case a member is deported.
"We are telling families to have a family preparedness plan, which is first put all the documents, important documents, in a place and make copies and give someone that they trust— a neighbor or another family member— those documents," Lopez said. "So if something happens to one of the members the documents are there for the rest of the family."
Many immigration advocacy organizations, such as Boston Medical Center, have released their own family preparedness plans to provide a comprehensive list for migrants to consider ahead of mass deportations, including having conversations with children and younger members of the family to explain the situation, in case parents are unexpectedly taken into custody.
"It's important to sit down with the children and explain what's happening," Lopez said. "Sometimes parents feel like they don't want to worry children, and give them that uncertainty. But if they're undocumented, that's their reality, it's better to explain [explain it to them and say] 'we came here to look for a better life, we are working hard, we are a good family, but we don't have papers, and there may be a chance of something called deportation.'"
What about sanctuary cities?
Since Trump won his reelection bid, some Democratic-led cities have begun "Trump-proofing" their states, with a number of them even adding legislation to prevent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or other immigration officials from deporting their local migrants.
For instance, the city of Los Angeles passed a law in November that prohibits its resources, including city employees and the police department, from being used to carry out federal immigrant enforcement, NBC News reports. Likewise, the Los Angeles Unified School District has declared itself a sanctuary for migrants, adopting resolutions that reassert schools as safe havens from immigration enforcement and that prevent employees from voluntarily sharing the immigration status of students and their families with federal agents.
But that doesn't mean that deportation will not come to a neighborhood. In fact, these laws are considered more of a hurdle to immigration officials, rather than an actual prevention of deportations.
"Relocating to areas with policies that limit cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities (often called 'sanctuary' areas) may offer additional protection, though federal actions can still occur," said Rosanna Berardi, a Managing Partner at Berardi Immigration law.
Seek legal advice
Every immigration case is different, so sitting down with a reputable lawyer can provide more clarity on what your options and pathways can be.
"Undocumented individuals should avoid unqualified 'notarios' or false legal advisors and seek guidance from a reputable immigration attorney to understand their options," Berardi said. "For those with children or dependents, preparing an emergency plan— such as designating a guardian, organizing key documents, and identifying trusted contacts— can help safeguard families and provide peace of mind."
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