Migrant families and immigration advocacy groups are preparing for potential mass deportations under President-elect Donald Trump, which could result in up to 4 million mixed-status families being separated. Families in states like Arizona, Colorado, and Pennsylvania are making plans for scenarios where children could be separated from their parents should deportations occur.
In Pennsylvania, a U.S. citizen is making preparations to potentially get passports for her children and establish a power of attorney in case her undocumented husband from Honduras is deported. Throughout Trump’s presidential campaign, he promised the largest mass deportation effort in American history, and while plans are still being developed, family detention and building more detention facilities are being considered.
Advocacy groups in Arizona and Colorado are assisting families in creating emergency packets in case of deportations. Additionally, they are bracing for the impacts of Proposition 314 in Arizona, which makes it a state crime to enter illegally and allows local law enforcement to arrest noncitizens.
In Denver, Colorado, a nonprofit leader is receiving constant inquiries from families about potential separations due to the recent influx of migrants in the city. Children in after-school programs are also asking about the possibility of deportation, sparking conversations with lawyers and families to provide guidance and support.
The upcoming mass deportations under the Trump administration are causing fear and uncertainty among immigrant families and advocates, with preparations underway to mitigate the potential impact.
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