Trump Administration Preparing for Mass Deportations and Immigration Crackdown
In the hours and days following his inauguration, President Donald Trump is expected to issue a slew of executive orders aimed at shutting down the US southern border and deporting millions of undocumented immigrants.
Trump signed executive actions on Monday, including an executive order to try to end birthright citizenship, a constitutional issue that would need to be addressed through a constitutional amendment or the courts. He also signed an order declaring a national emergency at the US southern border, which would trigger the deployment of additional Pentagon resources and the deployment of armed forces to finish the border wall.
During his inaugural speech, Trump repeated his pledge to carry out mass deportations, stating, "We will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens back to the places from which they came."
The immigration actions, which are likely to be challenged in court, have created fear and confusion in cities with large immigrant populations, including Denver, Colorado, where city officials have developed a policy playbook for employees to follow if Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrive.
In response to the new administration’s decision to shut down a border app that allowed migrants to seek asylum, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) took legal action, requesting an immediate status conference in an existing case against former President Joe Biden’s asylum restrictions at the US southern border.
The ACLU, along with various civil rights and immigration rights groups, also sued the Trump administration over its attempt to end birthright citizenship, arguing that Trump’s action violates both federal law and the Constitution. The lawsuit seeks a federal court to temporarily and permanently block the order.
In response to the impending immigration crackdown, state and local leaders are preparing for the worst, with some expressing enthusiastic support for Trump’s planned policies. Dozens of Republican governors released a joint statement supporting Trump’s commitment to making America safe again by addressing the illegal immigration crisis and deporting illegal immigrants who pose a threat to communities and national security.
Colorado, which has a patchwork of municipalities with different stances on immigration enforcement, is bracing for aggressive ICE enforcement actions in the capital city of Denver, which has become a battleground in the immigration debate. The city has developed a four-point plan to respond to anticipated ICE sweeps, including directives to collaborate with the federal government on the detention of violent criminals, similar to what was done during the Biden administration.
Other localities, such as Douglas County, Colorado, and Iowa, have expressed support for Trump’s immigration policies, with some even vowing to mobilize National Guard resources to assist with enforcement. However, others, like California, have been preparing to shield their progressive policies, including immigration protections, against the incoming president.
In the meantime, community leaders and law enforcement in Chicago are fielding concerns from migrant residents who fear they may be targeted by ICE in their places of work, school, and worship. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker expressed his support for migrant families on social media, sharing resources about emergency plans families should have in place, including gathering vital documents and choosing a caregiver to step in if a child’s parents are detained.