By Didi Martínez – NBC News
Migrant families and immigration advocacy groups are preparing that millions of families could be separated during mass deportations planned by President-elect Donald Trump.
It is unclear how exactly the deportations will play out and how families will be impacted. But a recent study by the American Immigration Council, a pro-immigration group, estimated that up to 4 million mixed-status families — where some members are undocumented and others are U.S. citizens — could be separated.
In states like Arizona, Colorado and Pennsylvania, mixed-status families, asylum seekers and human rights advocates say they are making plans for situations in which children could be separated from their parents.
In Pennsylvania, Lillie, a U.S. citizen who did not want to use her last name out of fear for her family’s safety, has been married for 10 years to her husband, who is an undocumented Honduran citizen. Last week she took her American-born children to get their passports processed and plans to draw up a power of attorney in case her husband is deported, she said.
“If something happens and my husband is detained or deported, it would be very difficult to get passports for our children and be able to leave the country to go see him,” she said.
Her husband was detained in 2017, in the first Trump Administration, for about two months. The experience has affected him “mentally and emotionally,” he said.
[¿Qué consecuencias tendrían las deportaciones masivas prometidas por Trump? Familias viven con miedo]
“He’s made it clear that if it happened again, it wouldn’t be ‘Let’s stay and fight,’” Lillie said. “It would be ‘Let’s go’, because he doesn’t want to be detained again.”
Throughout his successful campaign for the presidency in 2024, Trump has rallied his supporters with the promise that he would implement the largest mass deportation effort in US history. And although Trump has said he will begin by prioritizing criminal noncitizens for deportation, the president-elect and his incoming administration have not ruled out separating or deporting families.
When asked by CBS News last month if there was a way to carry out mass deportations without separating families, Tom Homan, who has since been named Trump’s “border czar,” said: “Families can be deported together.” ”.
Specific mass deportation plans are still being developed by Trump and his transition team, but sources familiar with the planning recently told NBC News that they are considering restarting family detention and potentially building more detention centers in non-border US cities. .
In Tucson, Arizona, the Human Rights Coalition, a group of more than 10 nonprofit organizations, is helping undocumented and mixed-status families create “emergency packages” ahead of possible mass deportations. The idea, organizers say, is based in part on past experiences in which parents have been detained or deported while their children were in school.
“We had cases where they made calls. There were cases in which they could not contact the mother, their friends,” explains Isabel García, co-founder of the coalition.
The “emergency package,” which coalition members are recommending to families at local workshops, will include key documents such as a power of attorney for parental rights, emergency family contacts and children’s school records.
[¿Volverían las separaciones de familias en la frontera si Trump gana las elecciones? JD Vance esquiva la pregunta]
Garcia said community interest in the coalition and its services has reached its peak since Trump won the 2024 presidential election.
“More people have come to our meetings. More people have called us. “Now we are inundated with people,” García said.
Advocacy groups are also preparing for state-level changes in immigration enforcement that could lead to deportations. Organizers with the Tucson Human Rights Coalition say they are bracing for the impact of Proposition 314, a tough state immigration and border control law that Arizona voters approved in November.
The measure makes it a state crime to illegally enter Arizona through a port of entry and allows local law enforcement to detain noncitizens and state judges to order deportations. It also adds state penalties to acts such as selling fentanyl that causes the death of another person and submitting false information to an employer or public benefits program.
Proposition 314 is one of multiple immigration-related state laws passed in the United States to address what supporters say is a record number of illegal crossings during Joe Biden’s administration.
Scenes of asylum seeker encampments in non-border cities, as well as high-profile crimes committed by immigrants, contributed to immigration becoming a key issue in this year’s elections in states like Arizona, which helped Trump. to return to the White House.
[Es improbable deportar a un millón de personas en un año, como quiere Trump, con las reglas y métodos actuales]
Some parts of Arizona’s Proposition 314 cannot go into effect until similar laws currently on hold in the courts, such as Texas Senate Bill 4, have gone into effect for at least 60 consecutive days. And some Arizona sheriffs have expressed concern about having to enforce Proposition 314 to its full extent.
“It would create distrust in the community,” said Santa Cruz County Sheriff David Hathaway, referring to the predominantly Latino jurisdiction he oversees. “They wouldn’t want to call 911. They would hesitate to call us.”
Hathaway, a former Drug Enforcement Administration agent, says she is also concerned about the lack of training and funding related to the new law. He worries that his staff of 40 officers will be overwhelmed if he asks them to take on immigration duties in addition to general crime in the area.
“We are not trained to be immigration agents, and I will continue with the same basic principles of law enforcement as each of the 3,000 elected sheriffs across the United States,” Hathaway said. “I happen to be on the border, but my priorities are still the same as any other sheriff.”
Fear in Colorado
In Denver, Yoli Casas runs a nonprofit that has assisted thousands of the more than 19,200 migrants who have arrived in the city since Texas Governor Greg Abbott began busing migrants in May 2023.
Although the number of daily arrivals has decreased significantly in recent months, Casas says his team has received many emails and texts from the community since Election Day.
[Trump confirma que planea declarar la emergencia nacional y usar al ejército para las deportaciones masivas]
Casas says he has received messages from families asking if they could give his organization power of attorney to do things like put children on planes in the event of separation.
The organization’s leader says she is starting to meet with attorneys and families to talk about what is possible and how best to answer those community questions.
He says kids in the after-school programs he runs are also raising questions.
“They even tell me: ‘Are they going to deport us?’ And other children ask: ‘Are they going to deport my friend?’”
**What specific legal challenges could arise in attempting to deport undocumented immigrants who have established families and deep roots within their communities, raising questions about due process and humanitarian concerns?**
## Interview: Facing Fear: Families and Advocates Prepare for Potential Mass Deportations
**Host:** Welcome to World Today News. The recent presidential elections have left many immigrant families across the country facing uncertainty and fear. President-elect Trump’s promises of mass deportations have sparked anxiety and preparations for potential family separations. Today we have two distinguished guests joining us to discuss the impact of this impending policy: [Guest 1 Name], an advocate for immigrant rights, and [Guest 2 Name], a legal expert specializing in immigration law. Welcome to both of you.
**(Thematic Section 1: The Impact on Families)**
**Host:** [Guest 1], let’s begin with your perspective. The article highlights stories of families like Lillie and her husband, who are grappling with the very real threat of separation. Can you elaborate on the emotional and practical challenges faced by families in this situation? What kind of emergency planning are you seeing within these communities?
**(Guest 1 Response)**
**Host:** Thank you. [Guest 2], from a legal perspective, how do you assess the feasibility and legality of mass deportations, particularly when it comes to families? What challenges do you anticipate in terms of upholding due process and protecting the rights of children involved?
**(Guest 2 Response)**
**(Thematic Section 2: State-Level Responses and Local Impacts)**
**Host:** The article discusses the impact of state-level immigration measures, like Proposition 314 in Arizona. [Guest 1], how do these measures complicate the situation for families and complicate the work of organizations like yours?
**(Guest 1 Response)**
**Host:** [Guest 2], Arizona Sheriff David Hathaway expressed concerns about enforcing these laws, citing lack of training and potential community distrust. Do you see unintended consequences arising from such policies at a local level? How can we ensure a humane approach to immigration enforcement, even within the framework of potentially stricter laws?
**(Guest 2 Response)
**(Thematic Section 3: Looking Ahead: Finding Solutions and Offering Support)**
**Host:** Both of you have dedicated yourselves to supporting immigrant communities. What concrete steps can be taken now, at both the local and national level, to mitigate the potential harm of mass deportations?
**(Guest 1 Response)**
**(Guest 2 Response)**
**Host:** what message do you want to send to families who are feeling scared and uncertain about the future?
**(Guest 1 Response)**
**(Guest 2 Response)**
**Host:** Thank you both for your insightful perspectives. We hope this conversation has shed some light on the complex realities facing families grappling with the prospect of mass deportations.
