President-elect Donald J. Trump has pledged to significantly reduce both legal and illegal immigration, initiating ramped-up deportations on his first day in office. In anticipation of these changes, immigrants are taking proactive measures to secure their status.
Foreign-born residents are inundating immigration lawyers with inquiries, attending information sessions hosted by nonprofits, and taking steps to protect themselves from the extensive measures threatened by Trump following his inauguration on January 20.
Inna Simakovsky, an immigration lawyer in Columbus, Ohio, noted that her firm has been overwhelmed with consultations, stating, “Everyone is scared.” Many immigrants with green cards are seeking U.S. citizenship, while those with uncertain legal status or who entered the country illegally are filing for asylum, as pending cases may offer protection from deportation under current guidelines. Couples with U.S. citizen partners are also expediting marriage plans to qualify for green cards.
There are approximately 13 million legal permanent residents in the U.S., alongside an estimated 11.3 million undocumented immigrants as of 2022.
Yaneth Campuzano, a 30-year-old software engineer from Houston, expressed her urgency to find a permanent solution due to the election outcome. Brought to the U.S. from Mexico as an infant, she is eligible for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), a program that protects immigrants who entered the country as children. However, with DACA under threat from Trump and facing legal challenges, she and her fiancé have accelerated their marriage plans ahead of his inauguration.
Both Democratic and Republican voters have expressed frustration over border chaos during President Biden’s administration. Trump has promised mass deportations and suggested declaring a national emergency to utilize the U.S. military for this purpose. His immigration policy adviser, Stephen Miller, indicated that “vast holding facilities” would be established as part of this operation, with a Texas land commissioner offering over 1,000 acres for detention centers.
During his first term, Trump deported approximately 1.5 million individuals, a figure similar to removals conducted by President Biden, while President Obama deported 3 million in his first term. However, mass deportations on this scale have not been pursued since the 1950s.
Sergio Teran, a legal permanent resident from Venezuela, applied for U.S. citizenship shortly after he became eligible, citing the uncertainty of the election as a motivating factor. He stated, “I feel much more secure knowing my citizenship is in process.”
Trump has appointed several immigration hardliners to key positions, including Thomas Homan as “border czar.” Homan has indicated a focus on removing criminals and individuals with outstanding deportation orders, while also employing tactics like workplace raids to target undocumented immigrants.
In California, where local leaders had previously limited cooperation with immigration enforcement, immigrants are increasingly anxious about potential escalations in enforcement under a Trump administration.
Silvia Campos, an undocumented farmworker, expressed concerns about the heightened fears surrounding Trump's anticipated actions. She, along with others, has been participating in “know-your-rights” sessions to prepare for potential immigration enforcement actions.
Vinchenzo Marinero, a DACA beneficiary in Dallas, is exploring legal avenues to remain in the U.S., fearing the loss of his job and stability if DACA is terminated. He has taken steps to renew his DACA status while hoping that his employer will sponsor him for a skilled-worker visa.
In response to the precarious situation, university leaders across the country are considering measures to support international and undocumented students, including sponsoring DACA beneficiaries for work visas. More than 1,700 university administrators attended a webinar focused on these support strategies.
Concerns also arise regarding international students who may travel during winter break, with some universities advising students to return to the U.S. before Trump's inauguration to avoid potential entry difficulties.