LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) – In under a month, President-elect Trump will take office, and upcoming speeches and interviews have raised many questions.
Trump has outlined his plans for mass deportation and even ending birth-right citizenship, but how are those promises being received by those most affected?
KGNS spoke to a grass-root organizer on what she’s noticed since Trump’s win, and what she recommends people with uncertain immigration status do.
According to Laredo Immigrant Alliance Board Director, Maria Elena Perez, “It’s going to break the social fabric of our community because we have a lot of immigrants.”
Perez says she noticed many Deferred Actions for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients are fearful their protected status will be in jeopardy once President-elect Trump takes office.
“Nothing has been fixed legally, like the DACA program, which is in limbo at the Supreme Court. It hasn’t been decided that it’s a legal program, and they haven’t done anything to protect them.”
Most DACA recipients have been in the country for over a decade, many having built careers and families, and according to Perez, are fearful it could be lost.
She [Perez] now recommends those with uncertain immigration status begin creating plans for what would be done in the case of deportation.
In the meantime, little has been said about the status and future of Dreamers by White House officials, and future Trump appointees.
Tom Homan, Trump’s pick as “Border Czar,” in an interview with CNN outlined the future administration objectives.
Homan mentioned, “We got over 700k illegal aliens in the country with a criminal conviction, they’re priority one. These criminal gangs, the Tren de Aragua, MS 13, are a priority. National security threats are a priority. The goal is for ICE officers and other agencies to arrest as many targeted aliens as possible.”
Trump, in an interview with NBC, discussed part of his immigration plans which included repealing birthright citizenship, which is currently protected by the 14th Amendment.
Perez states that this plan has created more tension among immigrants, as it would be an unprecedented change in immigration policy, one that could signal more things to come.
The Laredo Immigrant Alliance says they, along with many other non-profits, are dedicated to serving undocumented immigrants and are prepared to take a stand if needed.
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