As you know, the Trump administration released two very concerning executive orders on immigration late last week that may prove devastating to so many in our community (please continue reading below for important clarity on the impact of these policies). We have also seen some strong conern and resistance locally and nationally (with some help from the courts) bringing much needed hope, but this will be a long journey.
It is difficult to put into words just how destructive this could be to the safety and well being of the community we work with and serve each day at FaithAction - if we let it. In short, today's "executive orders" instruct the executive branch of the government to:
- Expand the US southern border wall with Mexico and drastically increase the number of border patrol agents, blocking the flight of Central American asylum seekers and Mexicans fleeing devastating poverty and violence
- Increase detention centers for immigrants and immigrant families, especially around the border, that have an awful record of human rights violations
- Significantly increase the amount of ICE agents working in our communities, and reinstating the "Secure Communities" program, seeking greater cooperation between ICE and local law enforcement - destroying what trust exists between police and the immigrant community
- Expanding the infamous "287g" program which seeks to turn local law enforcement into federal immigration agents, creating grave concerns around racial and ethnic profiling
- Widen the detention and deportation dragnet for undocumented individuals, and curtail the rights of non-citizens to due process in court
- Punish cities that seek to protect their immigrant residents by taking away crucial federal funding from local communities
*We are still uncertain about the future of the DACA program, and other hopes for larger immigration reforms.
*Here is a helpful link for understanding more on how this order may affect our immigrant neighbors and friends.
2nd Executive Order:
