Summary
Fear is spreading among undocumented communities in the U.S. as Trump prepares to return to the White House, pledging the largest mass deportation “in U.S. history.”
Advocates warn this could mean separation for millions in mixed-status families, and would require significant infrastructure, including detention camps, potentially costing $968 billion over a decade.
Trump also plans to revive harsh policies like “Remain in Mexico,” affecting 74,000 asylum seekers, and to dismantle Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), the 2012 Obama policy protecting about 825,000 “Dreamers” from deportation.
Additionally, he has threatened to revoke protections for Haitian and Gazan refugees and reimpose a travel ban targeting Muslim-majority countries.
Immigrant advocates say Trump’s rhetoric is fueling fear and psychological harm in vulnerable communities.
This is not too far off from the reality in CA where voters essentially mandated prisoners to be used as wild-fire fighting fodder.