President-elect Donald Trump has provided the public a sneak peak of some elements of his proposed "largest deportation in U.S. history." His announcements, as well as those of his border czar Thomas Homan, have sent shockwaves through immigrant communities, with immigration lawyers and nonprofit organizations reporting a surge in clients "scrambling" to "adjust their status" in anticipation of the looming policy changes. The Latin Times spoke to immigration lawyers and advocates to find out more about the situation.
Increased Demand For Legal Services
National immigration lawyer and scholar Elizabeth Ricci said she has observed a "marked increase in folks trying to legalize and legal folks trying to obtain a more permanent status." Ricci, who is based in Florida, added that Trump's recent deportation-related announcements have driven some undocumented individuals to "live deeper in the shadows," while others are making "an effort to document their lives to be able to show deep roots."
Additionally, she highlighted the proactive steps families are taking, such as "preparing for deportation" and "putting powers of attorney in place so that their children are taken care of and their accounts can be accessed in case they're arrested and removed."
Immigration Nonprofits Working at Capacity
Across the country, in Los Angeles, Gina Amato Lough, Directing Attorney of Public Counsel's Immigrants' Rights Project, is also working around the clock due to "a higher demand" she attributes to the "fear that people are feeling as we move toward inauguration."
"Folks are scrambling right now to assess whether or not they're eligible for some form of immigration relief. Even people who are currently in status are scrambling to find another status to apply for to protect themselves," said Lough. However, "the avenues for relief are really limited," she added.
Limited Avenues for Immigration Relief
The Public Counsel team began preparing for the anticipated uptick months in advance, "regardless of the election outcome." Lough shared that her team is currently prioritizing efforts to reopen cases for individuals likely to fall under Trump's priority deportation list—immigrants with removal orders and convictions. However, she noted that it is highly unlikely for many of these cases to be resolved before Trump's inauguration.
"We believe they're going to be kind of the main target of this administration, at least from the beginning. So a lot of people are trying to figure out how to reopen their cases and terminate them," Lough explained.
Preparing for an Increased Deportation Scope
Moving forward, Public Counsel is anticipating to deal with more complex situations, including the possible deportation of DACA recipients. "We expect expanded expedited removal, more workplace and home raids, efforts to attack birthright citizenship, and we're even expecting for U.S. citizen children to get caught up in the deportation machine," Lough said. "I think that's unique from the first time."
The organization is currently planning for different scenarios, using Trump's first term and Project 2025 as a guide. Public Counsel also contributed to L.A.'s recent sanctuary status ordinance, which has been condemned by top GOP figures, including border czar Thomas Homan, who pledged to double the amount of ICE agents and resources sent to sanctuary cities.
'Reckless' Legal Advice Amid Uncertainty
While immigrants across the country are looking for answers, New Jersey immigration lawyer Eric Mark told the Latin Times that "there is a lot of information out there right now telling people to file applications, motions and to take drastic measures," and that advice is "reckless."
Mark said that even immigration lawyers do not know what will happen during Trump's administration. "Many people are pretending they know, but no one knows," he said, adding that concerned immigrants should simply wait and avoid falling prey to misinformation. "The best thing to do right now is wait for actual reliable information, save money for whatever will need to be done."
Threat of Notario Fraud
Misinformation and panic are two tools scammers have long exploited. Lough, with 17 years of experience in the field, explained that "notario fraud"—a scheme in which scammers misuse their notary public license to deceive immigrant communities into believing they are licensed to practice law—is particularly prevalent during periods of uncertainty.
"When there are threats to the immigrant community...immigrants are scared and looking for help. Many of the people they turn to are not licensed to practice law, which leads to them being defrauded. These scammers take their money and place them in riskier situations than they were in before," Lough explained.
Trump's Second Term Deportation Plans
Trump, set to assume the presidency on January 20, has pledged to initiate a nationwide deportation operation targeting approximately 11 million undocumented individuals residing in the United States.
Although many skeptics have questioned the feasibility of such an undertaking, Trump and his border czar, Thomas Homan, have indicated plans to invoke a national emergency to access military resources and funding.
While Trump fell short of achieving his deportation goals during his first term, political observers note that his plans may gain greater traction this time, as Republicans are projected to hold a majority across all three branches of government by 2025.
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