Immigration Under the Trump Administration — Looking Back and Moving Forward
Recent reports show that while arrests of undocumented immigrants are up under the Trump administration, deportations have surprisingly decreased.
While at first, that fact may be hard to believe in light of his harsh anti-immigrant rhetoric and attempted travel bans, we can point to some factors which help explain it: increased border security means fewer undocumented entries to the U.S., and there’s a growing backlog of deportation cases that need processing following an increase in arrest rates. But the president’s threatening words toward immigrants has possibly also bred an arguably unintentional byproduct — more activism.
It started with two executive orders in January: one seeking to penalize sanctuary cities and another to prioritize the construction of a border wall. A movement quickly developed on Change.org to declare or preserve sanctuary status in cities, states, townships, and universities across the country. To date, 54 petitions have been started on the topic, including several victories. 67,013 people continue to support the movement.
This quick movement building is an early example of how regional organizing has been used to resist larger national agendas. In these instances, activists shifted their advocacy targets from the federal level to the state, local, and institutional levels.
In that same month, the first refugee admission and immigration ban was issued, which went on to be known as the Muslim ban, as it targeted Muslim-majority nations.
February ended up setting the tone for the rest of the year. It was then that the first major series of immigration raids took place; by mid month, more than 680 people were arrested. What makes these arrests different than those that took place under the Obama administration are those who are now subject to arrest: “law-abiding immigrants,” as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer referred to them earlier this year.
Although the number of people deported in 2017 is lower than this time last year, the number of arrests is much higher. That’s because any and all undocumented immigrants seem to be up for grabs under Trump’s presidency — including those who have not committed a crime since arriving in the U.S., those who pay taxes, and even those who have married and birthed U.S. citizens.
This year a number of petitions seeking to prevent individuals from deportation have made national news — including one seeking to prevent the deportation of Francisco Javier Gonzalez, a Palm Beach resident who manages a prestigious Italian restaurant with high profile clientele, including the President himself. Gonzalez, a father of three young daughters who are all U.S. citizens, even stood up for Trump’s frequent visits to Mar-a-Lago in the midst of criticism for his regular vacations. But he still faces deportation, even after nearly 30,000 people have signed the petition started by his lawyer, which has helped earn him two temporary stays of deportation.
“Yesterday, I again faced deportation. But thanks to your support, I was granted another extension, keeping me and my three daughters and wife together until spring,” Gonzalez wrote in a petition update earlier this month.
Now more than ever, contributing members of society are being targeted for deportation, and even more people are speaking up in their defense.
A school librarian in Oakland, California is petitioning to bring Maria Mendoza Sanchez back to the United States following her recent deportation. A California representative and senator have both introduced private bills to bring back Maria, and over 47,000 people have already signed the petition demanding her return.
In New Jersey, Jessica is petitioning to prevent the deportation of her father, who has AML Leukemia. In addition to being his family’s breadwinner, he is also undergoing cancer treatment at Hackensack Medical University Hospital and awaiting a lifesaving bone marrow transplant.
A man who sought refuge in the U.S. as an orphan following the Guatemalan Civil War faces deportation in Jupiter, Florida. A petition was started to keep Victor Chavez in the U.S. with his son and wife, who help him run a local auto mechanic and tires shop. Chavez and his family also run a children’s soccer league pro bono, and have been called “a role model to other immigrants in Jupiter.”
These petitions are perhaps indicative of a pattern in Trump era activism — with fewer opportunities to steer the course of legislation, some advocates seek to right individual injustices. Even in the face of larger systemic challenges, each petition fighting to to stop one single deportation sends a collective message of resistance. You can help support immigrant families at risk of being deported by joining this movement.
