President Donald Trump issued his first orders on the “largest deportation operation” in U.S history on the 20th of January, his first day in office.
Immigrant and Customs Enforcement also known as ICE explains more than 1,000 immigrants were arrested on Monday, January 27. President Trump’s purpose was to have the largest deportation operation in U.S history and has already achieved more arrests than when he wasn’t in office.
Thousands of protesters all over the United States, particularly in California, protest for the end of this mass deportation that was to be issued on Tuesday January 28th, a day after President Trump’s inauguration into office. Even sacred, religious sanctuaries like churches were to be targeted as a place for ICE raids. Pastor from Oregon explains his church will provide a safe place for undocumented people while under Trump’s new deportation policy.
Shelters and schools are also being raided creating fear amongst undocumented students or students associated with parents and or family members who lack legal status. Schools in Michigan, Florida, and even New Jersey are already being targeted by these policies. As schools try to protect their students, Trump is setting up to create a U.S history record with the largest number of deportation arrests ever.
Famous figures like Pope Francis are calling this new policy ‘a disgrace’ as reported on the AP Wire. The Pope explains that if Trump goes through with these mass deportations it would be a so-called ‘disgrace’ to our country. He prayed over our country that America would live up to the expectations we set on ourselves to be ‘the land of the free’ and welcoming to all. He continues to explain ‘this is not the way to solve things’. Not only Pope Francis, but many U.S bishops have directly opposed the deportation policy president Trump has initiated. In an AP Wire report, they state his policies are “incompatible with Catholic doctrine” and are strongly against the views the former president has on the future of our country.
While most are angry with the decisions of the former president, people are also taking into consideration all the steps undocumented immigrants can take in order to become official US citizens or help create a sanctuary space to live without the fear of deportation. Centers like the National Immigration Justice Center are giving out advice to help people with illegal status in our country.
