Migrant families and immigration advocacy groups are bracing for potentially millions of families to be separated during the mass deportations planned by President-elect Donald Trump. There are estimates that up to 4 million mixed-status families could be impacted by these deportations. Families in states like Arizona, Colorado, and Pennsylvania are preparing for scenarios where children could be separated from their parents, and are taking proactive steps like getting passports and power of attorney drawn up. Advocacy groups are helping families create emergency packets with key documents to prepare for potential deportations.
State-level changes to immigration enforcement, such as Arizona’s Proposition 314, are also causing concern. This law makes it a state crime to enter Arizona illegally and allows for the arrest of noncitizens by local law enforcement. Amid high-profile crimes by immigrants and scenes of asylum-seeker encampments in non-border cities, immigration has become a key issue in this year’s election. Some sections of Proposition 314 are on hold pending similar laws in other states taking effect, and some sheriffs are expressing concerns about enforcing the law due to lack of training and potential community backlash.
In Denver, a nonprofit assisting migrants has seen a surge of inquiries from families worried about potential separations. Families are asking about granting power of attorney to help with children in the event of deportations. Children are also expressing fears about deportation, highlighting the impact these policies are having on the community. Overall, there is a sense of fear and uncertainty among immigrant families as they prepare for the mass deportations anticipated under the Trump administration.
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