Former President Donald Trump recently announced his plans to conduct sweeping roundups of undocumented immigrants and establish detention camps if he were to be re-elected as President in 2024. His proposed policies would expand on his first-term immigration policies, aiming to deport millions of undocumented immigrants per year, including those who have been residing in the United States for many years. This has left many immigrants feeling anxious and scared about what the future holds. In this blog post, we will discuss what Trump’s immigration plans mean for undocumented immigrants.
Trump’s immigration plan involves speeding up deportations through an expanded form of removal that does not require due process hearings. Trump also plans to reassign federal agents and deputize local police and National Guard troops volunteered by Republican-run states to speed up the deportation process. To manage the influx of detainees, Trump plans to build expansive detention camps. If Congress refuses to comply, he plans to redirect Pentagon funds to support the operation.
Trump has likened this deportation operation to the “Eisenhower model,” a 1954 campaign named Operation Wetback, which aimed to detain and expel Mexican immigrants. However, this method was widely criticized for its mistreatment of immigrants and violation of their human rights. Trump’s proposed policies could potentially lead to the same outcome and harm thousands of innocent individuals.
Further aspects of Trump’s plan involve screening visa applicants for ideological views, revoking temporary protected status from individuals from certain countries deemed unsafe, and attempting to end birthright citizenship for babies born in the United States to undocumented parents. These policies would make it even harder for immigrants to have legal status in the United States and force them to live in fear.
Trump’s campaign has not responded to requests for comments on these plans, leaving many undocumented immigrants uncertain about their future in the United States. Trump’s proposed immigration policies could lead to higher levels of harassment, detention, and deportation of immigrants, which could break apart families, create economic hardships, and cause emotional trauma.
In conclusion, the latest announcement of Donald Trump’s immigration plans has created significant concern and uncertainty for undocumented immigrants. Trump’s policies are an expansion of his first-term immigration plan, which could potentially cause more harm than good for immigrants. Any policy that targets people solely based on national origin or immigration status is unfair, immoral, and un-American. We hope that the future administration will bring positive change for immigrants living in the United States and provide a path to a brighter future for all.
