Undocumented Immigrants Express Hope Trump’s Deportation Plans Target Criminals

Gabriela, a Bolivian national, arrived in the United States over twenty years ago, concealed beneath corn stalks in a smuggler’s vehicle trunk. Currently employed as a housekeeper in Maryland, she is among the minimum of 13 million undocumented migrants residing in the US. This broad classification encompasses individuals who entered the country without authorization, remained past their visa expiration, or possess protected status to prevent deportation. Throughout the US, migrants such as Gabriela are contemplating the potential implications of the incoming Trump administration’s pledge for widespread deportations on their future. In more than twelve interviews, undocumented immigrants reported that this subject was a frequent and intense point of discussion within their communities, WhatsApp groups, and social media platforms. Some individuals, including Gabriela, hold the belief that these measures will not affect them. “I’m not scared at all, actually,” she stated. “That’s for criminals to worry about. I pay taxes, and I work.” She further remarked, “In any case, I’m undocumented,” adding, “[So] how would they even know about me?” During an election campaign where immigration was a prominent concern for US voters, Trump repeatedly promised to carry out mass deportations of migrants from US territory starting on his first day in office, should he regain the presidency. However, almost two weeks following his decisive election victory, the precise nature of these immigration enforcement operations is still undefined. The president-elect has maintained that expenses will not pose a problem and has affirmed his intention to declare a national emergency to obtain the required resources. Nevertheless, experts have warned that his commitments might encounter significant financial and logistical obstacles. Tom Homan, his recently appointed “border tsar,” has stated that undocumented migrants identified as national security or public safety risks will be prioritized. He has also indicated that workplace raids, a practice discontinued by the Biden administration, might be reinstated. In an interview with Fox News on Saturday, the former acting director of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement during Trump’s initial term disputed the idea that “those who enforce the law are the bad guys and those who break the law are the victims.” He questioned, “What member of Congress, what governor or what mayor is against taking public safety threats out of their community?” He further added that the new administration intended to “follow through on the mandate that American people gave President Trump.” The deportation of migrants by US authorities is not a novel occurrence. Over 1.5 million individuals have been removed under President Joe Biden, alongside millions who were promptly denied entry at the border during the Covid-19 pandemic. During Barack Obama’s eight-year administration, which some referred to as the “deporter-in-chief,” approximately three million people were deported, primarily focusing on single men from Mexico who could be readily expelled from border areas. Trump’s proposed plans, however, are characterized by a broader scope and increased assertiveness, encompassing enforcement actions within the US, distant from border areas. Reports indicate that officials are also considering deploying the National Guard and military aircraft for the apprehension and eventual deportation of individuals. JD Vance, Trump’s running mate and the incoming vice-president, has stated that these deportations might “start” with one million people. Nevertheless, some undocumented migrants hold the view that a Trump presidency could bring them advantages rather than lead to their expulsion. “A lot of Latinos, those who can vote, did so because they think he [Trump] can improve the economy. That would be very good for us too,” commented Carlos, an undocumented Mexican resident of New York City, whose son is a US citizen. The American Immigration Council, a non-partisan organization dedicated to research and advocating for reforms to the US immigration system, reports that over five million Americans were born to undocumented parents and possess the security of US citizenship. Carlos expressed being “a little” concerned about being caught in immigration raids. However, this apprehension is mitigated by the prospect of an enhanced economy and increased employment opportunities under Trump. He stated, “Things may be a bit tense right in our communities right now, but being worried isn’t a solution.” He concluded, “The best thing to do is avoid problems and not commit any crimes.” Conversely, numerous others do not share this optimistic outlook and are experiencing fear. This group includes California resident Eric Bautista, known as a “Dreamer,” who is protected from deportation by a long-established program for individuals brought into the US unlawfully as children. At 29 years old, Mr. Bautista possesses only brief recollections of his life in Mexico, his birth country, which he departed at age seven. For the past four years, he has instructed high school students in US history, covering how successive waves of immigrants from Italy, Ireland, China, Japan, and Mexico established themselves in the nation, frequently encountering xenophobia. “I don’t think I’ve ever felt this way, even after more than 20 years here,” Mr. Bautista conveyed to the BBC. “It feels like we’re at a turning point, a new wave of nativism like those I teach about.” He added, “It’s just a future of fear and uncertainty for us.” Advocates and legal experts indicated that there is no assurance that undocumented migrants without criminal records would avoid being caught in intensified deportation initiatives. Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, policy director at the American Immigration Council, predicted an increase in “collateral arrests”—a term from the first Trump administration for immigrants apprehended during enforcement operations despite not being the primary targets. He explained, “Let’s say they go after somebody with a criminal record, and that person lives in a house with four other [undocumented] people,” adding, “We saw with the first Trump administration, they’ll arrest those people as well.” During a recent interview with CBS, the BBC’s US partner, Homan addressed a hypothetical scenario involving a grandmother apprehended during a “targeted” enforcement operation aimed at criminals. When questioned about her potential deportation, Homan replied, “it depends.” He stated, “Let the judge decide,” and affirmed, “We’re gonna remove people that a judge has ordered deported.” The apprehension and potential removal of individuals through such collateral arrests would represent a significant shift from the Biden administration’s approach, which has concentrated on public safety threats and the prompt deportation of individuals following their apprehension at the border. Although Homan recently rejected notions of “a mass sweep of neighbourhoods” or the establishment of extensive detention camps, the stock values of companies potentially involved in constructing detention facilities have surged by up to 90% since the election. These include publicly traded prison companies GEO Group and CoreCivic. Undocumented migrants are employed across various sectors of the US economy, ranging from agricultural fields to warehouses and construction sites. Mr. Reichlin-Melnick stated that operations targeting such workplaces could result in “indiscriminate” detentions. He remarked, “I don’t think that being a person with no criminal record [who] pays taxes protects anybody.” He further asserted, “