Dear John, On President Trump’s first evening back in office, the administration issued a series of executive orders resuming its assault on immigrants and asylum seekers in our communities. Soon after that, Congress passed the harshest immigration law we’ve seen in nearly 30 years, which will upend the American justice system and result in countless due process violations. These actions by the president and Congress demonstrate a brazen disregard for the constitutional, civil, and human rights of immigrants — including families and children. Here is the reality we now face: - People seeking refuge are under renewed attack, with the U.S.-Mexico border now completely sealed to people seeking protection and new baseless "terrorism" designations that block people who have escaped harm.
- Immigrant communities are poised to be criminalized to the maximum extent, regardless of whether they are convicted of wrongdoing or have even interacted with the criminal legal system.
- Military and taxpayer resources are diverted to militarize the border.
- Cities, states, and nonprofits that support immigrants are facing funding cuts and threats of criminal prosecution. On the third day of the new administration, NIJC's Chicago Immigration Court Helpdesk received a stop-work order intended to shut down access to legal information for immigrants navigating the system without representation.
- Children could face family separation and be barred from protection.
- Tired, racist tropes against immigrants will pose a danger to all of our communities, as we face simultaneous attacks on our environment, LGBTQ+ people, and Black, Indigenous, and other people of color.
See the National Immigrant Justice Center’s new explainer breaking down the impact these executive orders will have on our communities. But here is something just as important: Our immigrant communities are resilient, and so are the allies who are advocating to defend them. NIJC has a collection of Know Your Rights resources to make sure everyone is prepared for threats of deportations and knows what to do if they encounter Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). |
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In the Midwest, we are ready to defend a federal court settlement NIJC and our partners won in 2022 which limits ICE’s ability to arrest people without warrants. And we are already back in court fighting to uphold U.S. asylum laws that guarantee the right to seek protection from persecution. The mother of a plaintiff in that lawsuit bravely shared her story last week, underscoring why it is important to continue to defend access to asylum. She is separated from her son who is currently stranded in Mexico trying to seek asylum but he is blocked from any opportunity to do so because of Trump's policies. |
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Our most important fights in the next four years will be to uphold the rule of law, and to support neighbors and loved ones who come under attack. NIJC will continue our work to extend access to legal counsel to as many people as possible, defend due process, and always remember that our communities are stronger when we welcome immigrants and promote policies that ensure the wellbeing of and access to justice for all. Thank you for being here with us. Azadeh Erfani
Director of Policy, National Immigrant Justice Center |
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