On Jan.20, Trump’s first official day in office for his second term or known as Inauguration day. Where he began to sign a series of executive orders that revoked 78 of Joe Biden’s previous policies, issued in 2021
Furthermore within America, is the rise of immigration raids that are meant to target immigrants who carry a criminal background first, however, the type of offense does not affect the urgency of who is to be deported. Illegal individuals who have any minor offenses such as driving violations and even those who have none but are in the area, will be deported. President Trump’s administration and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) plans to begin with raids within major cities such as Chicago, Boston, Washington D.C, Miami, Los Angeles, Denver, New York and San Antonio.
President Trump has started his efforts to decrease illegal immigration from Mexico, attempting to reinstate the “Wait in Mexico” policy which was active during his previous administration in 2019. It requires immigrants who seek asylum at the southern border to wait within Mexican border cities until their official hearings in U.S. immigration court.
In support of the policy, the Trump administration is sending 1,500 more troops, which would be a 60% increase in active duty, to the southern border; including helicopter crews and intelligence analysts. Going hand in hand with the increase in security, the administration seeks to conduct military airlifts to deport more than 5,000 people detained by Customs and Border Protection beginning in San Diego, El Paso.
Although the precise number of undocumented children and families is not concrete, the Migration Policy Institute shows about 5.5 million are under the age of 18, raised by undocumented parents as of 2019. There are no limitations to the raids, as the Trump team also plans to give official enforcement more power to make arrests to those who they suspect in any areas they are stationed.
Within these major cities, ICE will no longer be avoiding “sensitive” areas — including elementary schools, secondary schools, colleges, hospitals and churches — when the raids begin. This was established during Trump’s first full day in office, as they believe that many illegal immigrants hide within these places across America. As a DHS spokesperson said the new policy gives ICE and CBP the ability “to enforce our immigration laws and catch criminal aliens, including murderers and rapists- who have illegally come into our country”
In response to these new changes, the National Immigration Law Center has released statements reminding individuals of their rights regardless of their immigration status. Those rights include Fourth Amendment protections from any unreasonable searches and seizures, along with the Fifth Amendment- the right to remain silent when confronted by any law enforcer. Along with 80 education and other organizations that sent letters on Jan 20. to state and local leaders to urge them to reject anti-immigrant activity due to President Trump’s administration.