Fears for undocumented immigrants as Trump takes office

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Europe

By CGTN’s May Lee

Fear and uncertainty remain for an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants in the US. Many are anxious to see how Donald Trump’s campaign promises on deportations and building a wall on the Mexican border translate into reality.

It’s all hands on deck at the Coalition for Humane Immigration Rights of Los Angeles, as a team of lawyers and legal experts prepares for President-elect Donald Trump and his promise to deport millions of undocumented immigrants that he said have criminal records. But opponents argue the plan is not viable.

According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, agriculture production would quickly drop 9 percent. The organization predicts that construction, leisure and hospitality would suffer an 8 percent decline over the long term.

US President-elect Donald Trump speaks at the Chairman's Global Dinner, a black-tie, invitation-only dinner aimed at introducing foreign diplomats to the team tasked with implementing the "America First" policies of the next administration, in Washington, DC on January 17, 2017. /CFP Photo

Besides economic losses, immigration enforcement will require a huge increase in spending on resources needed to handle the deportation process.

But there’s a big problem with the process. Right now, there’s a backlog of more than half a million people in immigration courts in the US with fewer than 300 presiding judges, which means cases can be delayed up to four years. So adding a few more million cases to the mix would create more problems for an already strained system.

“Gloria”, not her real name, and her husband are two of the more than 2.5 million undocumented immigrants in California. Since coming to the US from Mexico 30 years ago, the couple has raised a family and built a successful jewelry business. But Trump’s threats have the couple and their four US-born children fearing the worst.

The US Capitol building in Washington, DC on Wednesday, January 18, 2017. /CFP Photo

“I want to stay in my house, my country. I have to keep fighting. This is my country. I feel like my country. More than 30 years, it’s my country, my house,” undocumented immigrant Gloria said.

There is a glimmer of hope for Gloria. Los Angeles is one of 300 sanctuary cities that will not cooperate with federal immigration policies. Trump has threatened to cut off federal funding to those cities. All the more reason immigration advocates are preparing for a fierce battle.