As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to assume office with promises of mass deportations, immigrant advocates are launching workshops nationwide to help immigrants prepare.
At a bilingual session in Los Angeles, Winston Leiva from the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) urged attendees to plan ahead: designate caregivers for children, refuse entry to authorities without a judicial warrant, and exercise the right to remain silent.
“We know this administration,” Leiva said. “The extent of its impact is uncertain, but preparation is key.”
READ ALSO: 9 Trump policies that will hurt Black Americans
Advocacy groups across the U.S. are hosting similar trainings and urging eligible immigrants to apply for citizenship or legal status now to avoid delays under the incoming administration, according to a report by AP. Legal aid organizations, like Chicago’s National Immigrant Justice Center, are accelerating case resolutions, while states like California and Illinois bolster immigrant protections.
Fear runs deep, even among naturalized citizens and their U.S.-born children. Families are drafting legal plans to manage custody and property in case of deportation. “Separation is a real issue,” said Renata Bozzetto of the Florida Immigrant Coalition.
Despite the challenges, advocates are leaning on lessons from Trump’s first term to better organize and support immigrant communities. “We’re more experienced now,” said Fiona McEntee, a Chicago immigration attorney. “We know how to fight back.”
READ ALSO: Donald Trump to consider pardoning embattled New York Mayor Eric Adams
