Migrant families and immigration advocacy groups are bracing for potential mass deportations under President-elect Donald Trump, with up to 4 million mixed-status families at risk of being separated. Families in states like Arizona, Colorado, and Pennsylvania are preparing for scenarios where children could be taken from their parents.
The uncertainty surrounding the exact plans for deportation has led families to take precautions, such as obtaining passports for US-born children and creating emergency packets with key documents. Advocates are also gearing up for state-level changes to immigration enforcement, like Arizona’s Proposition 314, which criminalizes illegal entry and allows for deportations.
Law enforcement officials, like Santa Cruz County Sheriff David Hathaway, expressed concerns about enforcing these laws, citing potential negative impacts on community trust and lack of training and funding for immigration duties. In Denver, nonprofits are seeing a surge in inquiries from families worried about potential separations and children fearing deportation.
The reinstatement of family detention and the consideration of building more detention facilities in non-border US cities are among the potential plans being developed. Advocacy groups are urging families to prepare for the worst and are working to provide support and resources to help navigate potential separations.
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