Quick summary:
• Trump plans to use a national emergency and military resources for mass deportations targeting 11-14 million undocumented immigrants, costing an estimated $315 billion.
• Immigrants and mixed-status families face uncertainty, with many fearing separation and loss of livelihoods under Trump’s proposed policies.
• Stephen Miller’s detailed plans include detention camps and expanded enforcement, while activists warn of devastating humanitarian and economic impacts.
• Amnesty International is urging Biden to issue new protections such as Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and to address immigration backlogs before Trump takes office.
• Biden’s immigration policies have faced criticism, with over 10 million border encounters during his term and limited systemic reforms.
• Immigrants, including DACA recipients and mixed-status families, are preparing for potential separation despite years of legal efforts and community ties.
• Advocates stress that Biden’s immediate actions could slow Trump’s mass deportation plans and provide critical protections for vulnerable populations.
Donald Trump’s impending return to office has reignited fears across the United States as immigrants—both documented and undocumented—brace for an unprecedented wave of mass deportations. Trump has already announced plans to declare a national emergency and utilize military resources to target millions of undocumented individuals. Activists and human rights organizations are urging President Joe Biden to act swiftly to provide protections before leaving office, emphasizing that the consequences of inaction could be catastrophic for millions of people.
Trump’s campaign pledge to oversee what he called “liberation day” has sparked widespread anxiety among immigrant communities. His proposed immigration policies include mass deportations targeting an estimated 11-14 million undocumented immigrants. Stephen Miller, Trump’s newly named deputy chief of staff for policy and the architect of the family separation policy, has proposed using detention camps and other aggressive measures. Tom Homan, the new “border czar,” has suggested doubling Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) efforts, describing the plan as “business as usual, but times two.”
According to Aaron Reichlin-Melnick of the American Immigration Council, “Stephen Miller is absolutely apocalyptic about what mass deportations would look like on his end. He talks about detention camps in Texas with very clear, specific operational details.” Trump has reportedly sided with Miller’s approach, which is likely to involve large-scale military coordination and sweeping enforcement actions.
The estimated cost of the deportation effort stands at a staggering $315 billion, raising questions about its feasibility and economic impact. Nevertheless, Trump’s administration appears undeterred, and his re-election has left many immigrants facing profound uncertainty about their future.
One undocumented immigrant, a recent graduate living in Arizona, described feeling “very paralyzed” after Trump’s victory. “Like a sense that I had no control over anything,” he told Newsweek. Reflecting on his potential deportation to Nigeria, he added, “I didn’t think it was going to be that much of a decisive win… I don’t know if I’ll be here in a year. Or if I’ll be in a jail cell, awaiting trial or something.”
Immigration advocates warn that Trump’s plans will not only disrupt the lives of undocumented individuals but also devastate mixed-status families—households that include both U.S. citizens and undocumented relatives. A report from the American Immigration Council estimates that as many as 4 million such families could face separation.
Julie Moreno and her husband, Neftali Juarez Garcia, a construction worker who entered the United States illegally in 2004, are among those preparing for the worst. Garcia’s application for an immigration waiver is still pending, but the couple fears it may not be approved under Trump’s administration. “We’re asking for the bare minimum of just allowing us to have peace of mind that our spouses won’t be deported,” Moreno said.
Activists are calling on Biden to take immediate steps to protect immigrants before leaving office. Amnesty International has urged the administration to issue new Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designations, expand protections for asylum seekers and DACA recipients, and end detention expansion efforts. Paul O’Brien, Amnesty International USA’s executive director, emphasized the urgency of the situation. “President Biden must use the power of the pen to protect those seeking sanctuary from the coming deportation machine that will crush the human rights of our immigrant neighbors,” he said.
Amnesty is also pushing for additional resources for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to address long backlogs and streamline applications for work permits, advanced parole, and other legal pathways. Amy Fischer, director of refugee and migrant rights at Amnesty International, argued that swift action from Biden could serve as a critical bulwark against Trump’s policies. “Some of these actions that President Biden must take will help slow down any mass deportation efforts and will send a strong message to people seeking safety that they are welcome in the United States,” she said.
Biden’s record on immigration has drawn scrutiny from both supporters and critics. During his term, U.S. Customs and Border Protection recorded over 10 million encounters at the northern and southern borders. While recent apprehension numbers have declined, activists argue that Biden has not done enough to address systemic issues within the immigration system.
For many immigrants, the fear of deportation is compounded by the potential loss of livelihoods, homes, and community ties. A DACA recipient in California described the fragile stability he has built over 26 years in the United States. “DACA allowed me to get a job, pay for my education, allowed me to start a career and give back to my community by helping children with neurodevelopmental disabilities,” he told Newsweek. “A Trump presidency is putting all of this at risk for me. I may lose my protections against deportation, I may be separated from my wife or my family, and I may lose my job. I’m really at the risk of losing everything that I’ve built.”
The stakes are similarly high for families like Moreno and Garcia, who face potential separation despite years of legal efforts. “They have all of my information,” Garcia said, referring to the fingerprints and photographs submitted with his application. “They know where I live; they know what I look like.”
Advocates are clear that Biden’s actions in the coming weeks could have lasting implications for millions of people. Fischer urged the administration to take bold steps, noting that the window for meaningful action is closing rapidly. “President-elect Trump already has plans in place to start a massive deportation effort and completely gut the very foundation of asylum on day one of his second term. There simply is no time to lose.”
“Some of these actions that President Biden must take will help slow down any mass deportation efforts and will send a strong message to people seeking safety that they are welcome in the United States,” Fischer added. “This is his last chance.”
To send a message to U.S. Representatives and Senators to stop the Trump administration from mass deportation, join ACLU’s action here.
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