Migrant families and immigration advocacy groups are bracing for potential mass deportations under President-elect Donald Trump, which could lead to the separation of up to 4 million mixed-status families. Families in states like Arizona, Colorado, and Pennsylvania are making preparations for potential separation, such as obtaining passports for children and creating emergency packets with key documents.
Trump has promised to prioritize criminal noncitizens for deportation, but his administration has not ruled out separating families. Plans are being developed for family detention and possibly building more detention facilities in nonborder U.S. cities. Advocacy groups, such as the Coalición de Derechos Humanos in Tucson, are helping families create emergency packets and are expecting increased community interest in light of the upcoming deportations.
State-level changes to immigration enforcement, such as Arizona’s Proposition 314, which criminalizes illegal entry and allows for state arrests and deportations, are also a concern. The law is part of broader efforts to address what supporters see as a rise in illegal border crossings under the Biden administration and contributing to Trump’s return to the White House.
Sheriffs in areas like Santa Cruz County, Arizona, are expressing concerns about enforcing stringent immigration laws due to potential community distrust and the lack of training and funding. In Denver, organizations assisting migrants are receiving increased inquiries from families about granting power of attorney in case of separation, while children are expressing fears of deportation in after-school programs. The uncertainty surrounding the mass deportations and potential family separation is causing anxiety and uncertainty among migrant families and immigrant communities across the country.
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