Afrasianet - Irregular immigrants in the United States who are at risk of deportation are carefully calculating their movements in their cities, especially those that limit their cooperation with federal authorities in enforcing immigration laws.
Some decided to stay at home and close the doors tightly, and some prevented their children from going to school for fear of an unexpected raid by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement ( ICE) agents that could lead to their arrest.
They have taken their self-imposed prison as a haven they cannot leave for fear of finding themselves on a plane bound for Guantanamo Bay, as President Donald Trump has promised.
Those targeted by deportation know that this time the Trump administration is more serious and strict in its positions towards them compared to his first administration, as the US president since Inauguration Day has not stopped issuing executive decisions and laws that enhance the ability of immigration authorities to deport as many irregular immigrants as possible in the country.
Most recently, Trump signed a memorandum directing the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security to build a facility to accommodate 30,000 irregular migrants at the Guantanamo Bay naval base in Cuba, a place that is "hard to get out of," as Trump put it.
The memo was preceded by the signing of the Leckon Riley Act, the first piece of legislation to receive Trump's signature since his return to the White House, and gives federal authorities broader authority to deport irregular immigrants accused of crimes in all states, particularly "safe haven cities" that protect immigrants from deportation and coercive action.
Immigration Agency. Protection of security or violation of rights?
ICE personnel are on the streets of U.S. cities, especially in areas with high immigrant populations, wearing civilian clothes or vests bearing the agency's logo, and working in small groups or in specialized teams to carry out arrests and raids without warning in the locations or work sites of irregular migrants, sometimes leading to mass arrests.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a federal agency of the Department of Homeland Security, enforces immigration laws and combats cross-border crimes such as human smuggling, drug trafficking, and cybercrime.
The agency operates through two main divisions, the Enforcement and Deportation Operations (ERO) Division, which is responsible for detention and deportation, and the Internal Security Investigations (HSI) Division, which focuses on criminal investigations.
In Trump's first term, the agency's operations became stricter, arrests rose in early 2017 compared to 2016, and cooperation with local law enforcement agencies was strengthened, with a focus on cities known as "safe havens."
The administration planned to deport as many migrants as possible, but logistical and legal hurdles prevented the deportations from being carried out on a large scale.
To overcome those obstacles, after his inauguration on January 20, 2025, Trump issued executive orders to strengthen immigration enforcement and rescinded previous policies that limited where such arrests could occur that gave CIA personnel the authority to carry out operations in places such as hospitals, places of worship, schools, and other locations.
The administration has also sought to strengthen cooperation between federal immigration officers and local authorities to detect and detain individuals who are not registered with immigration services.
These facilities have placed "safe haven" cities that previously refused to cooperate with federal authorities on the frontline with ICE, including Chicago, New York, Miami, Denver and Los Angeles.
'Safe havens' are no longer protected
These facilities have not prevented a confrontation between the Trump administration and officials in cities that follow safe harbor policies regarding immigration enforcement, but have deepened the political divide in the United States, and the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency sees its policy as necessary to ensure the implementation of immigration laws and maintain the rule of law, and accused Democratic-majority states of obstructing the raids.
Democratic politicians, on the other hand, complained about the agency's law enforcement practices, saying that the agency is a symbol of harsh policies in carrying out deportations that lead to the dismantling of migrant families, that detention centers lack adequate humanitarian conditions, and called for radical reform of the agency.
The Justice Department issued a recent memo emphasizing the need for members of joint counterterrorism teams, including local and state police, to abide by the Trump administration's guidance regarding immigration policies.
The memo also touched on the possibility of bringing charges against local officials for harboring illegal immigrants, as well as the possibility of suing cities and counties that stand in the way of cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
The U.S. House of Representatives' Committee on Government Oversight and Reform announced an investigation into the impact of cities with safe harbor policies on public safety and federal immigration enforcement.
Earlier, the committee's chairman, Republican Representative James Commer, criticized safe harbor policies, saying they "hinder the ability of federal law enforcement to arrest and deport dangerous criminals, putting public safety at risk," adding that these cities refuse to fully cooperate with federal immigration authorities, further complicating the situation.
The committee summoned New York Mayor Eric Adams to testify Feb. 11 about the city's immigration policies.
The subpoena also included mayors of cities with similar policies, including the mayor of Chicago, Illinois. Governor J.P. Pritzker is an opponent of deportation policies and has vowed to "stand up" against laws targeting immigrants.
Amid the controversy, Homeland Security Secretary Christy Noem participated in arrests in New York City, posting photos on X-site wearing a jacket that read ICE, and saying the Trump administration was "making our streets safe."
Reuters reported that senior Trump administration officials attended arrests by immigration enforcement in New York City and elsewhere.
The deportation journey for migrants follows steps that begin with arrest, which consists of random raids that include all facilities where immigration violators are expected to be present, including workplaces, or arrests targeting those with criminal records. Even highways have become among the places subject to inspection.
This is followed by detention, where migrants are transferred to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility, which includes more than 100 facilities in the United States that can accommodate approximately 41,000 people.
According to the Associated Press, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement currently detains migrants in its centers and in detention facilities run by private companies, as well as local prisons and detention facilities, and the department has no facilities designated to detain the families of migrants, who make up nearly one-third of arrivals at the southern U.S. border.
Legal proceedings then begin and a judge will be brought before a judge who assesses the situation and determines the fate of each migrant, and if the judge orders deportation, issues a "final deportation order." Those who have entered within the past two years are sometimes subject to speedy deportation without being brought before a judge.
Soon comes the latest step, deportation, mostly by air via commercial aircraft at assembly sites on the southwestern border in Arizona, Louisiana and Texas. Of course, flights are preceded by logistical details with the countries that will receive their citizens, including landing permits, deportee information, and other details.
All of these steps seem easy to implement, but they run into financial cost hurdles, for example to overcome the high cost of chartering private jets, and to speed up mass deportations, the administration has allowed the use of military aircraft to transport deportees.
An estimated 11.7 million people live in the United States illegally, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement currently has the budget to detain only about 41,000 people.
Human Rights Concerns
Human rights reports indicate that these directives on deportation are not fleeting decisions, but rather part of a broader approach aimed at reshaping immigration policies in the United States, which has made the confrontation between the Trump administration and human rights organizations extend to courtrooms to defend the rights of migrants.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is one of the most vocal voices opposing these policies, expressing deep concern about the possibility of mass deportations that could violate due process.
The Federation also warned of the risk of involving local law enforcement in the enforcement of federal immigration laws, which could exacerbate racial discrimination and undermine trust between migrant communities and security agencies.
As a human rights organization with a long history of defending civil liberties, the American Civil Liberties Union has affirmed its commitment to addressing these decisions. He issued a statement warning that these policies "have the support of some parties in Congress, which could turn threats into reality," but stressed that he was prepared to confront them judicially and on the ground.
A group of immigrant rights organizations launched a solidarity initiative calling for opposition to mass deportation plans and stressing the importance of collective action to protect immigrant communities and keep families united across the United States.
Human rights organizations opposed to the new administration's deportation practices agree that the decision violates due process rights, as accelerating deportation proceedings often undermines individuals' rights to fair trials and legal representation, and deportations cause families to be separated, causing great psychological and economic suffering. In addition to inhumane conditions of detention, the organizations monitored lack of medical care, overcrowding, and poor sanitation in detention centers.
Academics pointed to the impact of these policies on migrants and their repercussions internationally, and Phyllis Gareb, a professor of sociology and public affairs at Princeton University, commented on the university's website that these measures have led to uncertainty and fear among migrants.
"If the United States closes its borders, expels legally resident migrants and refuses to take in refugees, in violation of its international legal obligations, what will stop other countries from taking similar steps?".
Julian Zelzer, a professor of history and public affairs at the university, sees Trump's decisions as an "assault on the executive branch" and in line with his tough campaign promises on immigration. Many of these measures could face legal challenges, but if passed, they would be the beginning of a reorientation of U.S. public policy in several areas, including immigration laws and dealing with refugees.
Are churches turning into a battlefield?
Over the past years, many immigrants have taken church refuge to escape the grip of U.S. immigration and customs enforcement agencies, allowing them to remain in temporary shelter, sometimes for days or weeks, without fear of arrest, especially when laws in former President Joe Biden's administration prevented immigration operations in so-called "protected areas," including churches.
But with the recent repeal of these laws, some of these churches have begun to be reluctant to provide shelter, fearing that federal immigration agents will storm churches during prayers or religious activities and that houses of worship will become an arena of confrontation with immigration enforcement.
The US Department of Homeland Security said in a statement that the immigration raids target those irregular migrants with serious criminal records, explaining that the new procedures allow CBP to enforce immigration laws more strictly.
In its statement, the department stressed that the goal is to arrest "criminal aliens" who entered the United States illegally, and stressed that criminals will not be able to hide in American schools and churches to avoid arrest.
In response to these measures, on January 27, the Quaker religious association filed a lawsuit against US authorities, demanding that immigration agencies be prevented from carrying out arrests or searches of churches.
According to Reuters, the lawsuit indicated that the new policy violates the religious rights of its followers, explaining that the fear caused by these measures led to the reduction or cancellation of some religious services.
The American Catholic Bishops' Conference expressed concern, noting that the policy could turn places of care and worship into "areas of fear." Timothy Bruglio, the U.S. Catholic archbishop, said decisions about migrants and refugees were of grave concern because of their potential negative impact on the most vulnerable in society.
US Vice President J.D. Vance criticized the church's remarks, saying the bishops' concern stemmed from financial motives, accusing the church of relying heavily on funding it receives to support immigrants. Vance added in an interview with CBS News that the church's position is affected by the aid it provides, which may have repercussions on political positions.
The clergy's comments were preceded by a face-to-face confrontation with the US president on his inauguration day on January 20, while attending a prayer at the Washington National Cathedral, where Trump was surprised by a request from Bishop Marianne Edgar to help children who feared they would be separated from their immigrant parents, as well as people fleeing conflict zones.
"The Lord teaches us to be merciful to strangers," the bishop said in her speech. The speech sparked widespread reactions on social media platforms, where Edgar's comments went viral. But President Trump did not hesitate to respond, criticizing the bishop's "sharp approach."
What do the numbers say?
A recent AssociatedPress /NORC poll found that many Americans support enhanced security at the southern border and deportation of immigrants convicted of violent crimes.
The results of the survey, conducted between 9 and 13 January, of 1,147 respondents, indicate that overall consensus on migration policies remains limited, but that tougher policies may face resistance from the majority.
Among the most important results of the survey:
• Mass deportations:
About 70 percent of Americans support the deportation of immigrants lawfully residing in the United States if convicted of violent crimes, 52 percent of whom have shown strong support for the measure, while 17 percent partially approve of it. The poll shows a clear gap between partisan views, with 69 percent of Republicans strongly supporting the policy, compared to 40 percent of Democrats.
• Detention in "protected areas":
More than half of Americans oppose internments of children in schools or individuals in places of worship. About half oppose arrests in hospitals. It can be seen in the poll that Republicans do not support the implementation of this policy in protected areas.
• Strengthening border security:
About 50 percent of Americans believe that strengthening border security should be a top government priority, while only 17 percent see it as a low priority.
Opinions were mixed on the government's priority in deporting irregular migrants, with 33% believing that deportation should be a priority for the government, 36% saying it should be of medium concern, and 29% considering it a low-priority issue.
Programs to expand temporary employment and take in refugees do not seem to be a top priority for most Americans, with only about a quarter saying these issues deserve significant government attention.