The new immigration policy: No undocumented migrant is safe

José López Zamorano | La Red Hispana 
Photo Credit: Unsplash

As anticipated, the administration of President Donald Trump has intensified its “targeted” immigration policy actions with detentions in cities like Chicago and repatriations in military aircraft.

The priority of immigration agencies like the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are those migrants who represent a risk to public safety or national security.

We are talking, according to federal government figures, about more than 400,000 migrants with criminal records, including some 12,000 murderers and 16,000 rapists.

The next priority of immigration agencies will be more than a million migrants with pending deportation orders.

But the message from the new border czar Tom Homan is very clear: “If you are in the country illegally, you have a problem.”

The first immigration actions by agencies such as ICE, the FBI, ATF, DEA and Marshalls resulted in nearly 1,200 arrests in a 24-hour period. According to a federal official, about half were people with criminal records.

That means that at least 500 migrants fell into the nets of immigration authorities despite the fact that they had no criminal record. Homan calls these arrests “collateral damage.” His recommendation to all migrants: “You must leave.”

The administration’s intention is clear. Given the lack of money to execute its ambitious deportation program, authorities expect migrants to self-deport.

According to estimates that Homan has shared with legislators, at least $80 billion is urgently needed to fund some 100,000 detention spaces, given that there are currently only 41,000.

The Trump administration also lacks the resources to complete its project for a wall along the nearly 2,000 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border, and it also requires further resources to meet its goal of hiring more border agents.

The impact of the new immigration policy is clear to see. There is fear among migrant communities, and an atmosphere of mistrust between immigrant communities and public institutions is perpetuated.

Many families are afraid to seek essential services, such as medical care or education, for fear of being exposed to the radar of immigration authorities.

Communities, human rights defenders, and local leaders must be united in asking for fair treatment and seeking solutions that respect the dignity and rights of all.

Migration is a human phenomenon that requires compassion and understanding. A police-style immigration policy creates new problems: fear, division, and a weakening of the fundamental values ​​that should guide this nation.

Today, more than ever, it is vital to stay informed, organized, and supportive to protect those who need it most. No human being should live in constant fear of losing everything just for the sake of seeking a better future.

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