The looming threat of mass deportations under Donald Trump’s presidency has cast a shadow over millions of mixed-status families. As Trump prepares to enact what he describes as the largest deportation effort in U.S. history, families across the nation are bracing for potential upheaval. With an estimated 4 million families at risk, many are taking steps to prepare for the worst.
Families Preparing for Potential Deportations
Lillie, of Pennsylvania, is a U.S. citizen who is married to an undocumented immigrant. She has already begun making plans for the eventual deportation of her husband. She has recently obtained passports for her children and has begun the process of creating power of attorney. This is an important step so that the children can travel outside of the United States to visit their father if he is deported.
She says her concerns are partly personal. Her husband was detained for two months in 2017 – a traumatic experience that still causes him emotional pain. This time, the family has ruled they won’t go through the same ordeal again and have instead devised a reunification plan outside of the U.S.
Trump’s administration has not ruled out detaining families together or separating them in its deportations. While specific strategies are still in the making, it is considering the possibility of reinstating family detention centers and also expanding such facilities to non-border cities.
Arizona’s Emergency Preparedness
But in Arizona, community organizations also are stepping in to help families prepare for the uncertain future. The Tucson-based Coalición de Derechos Humanos is distributing “emergency packets” with important documents like powers of attorney, lists of emergency contacts, and copies of children’s school records.
Past incidents, where parents were taken into custody and children were at school, have created a very chaotic situation for families. Since Trump got elected, this has been one of the fastest-growing initiatives as families seek ways to protect their futures.
Arizona has also enacted a new state law, Proposition 314, which criminalizes illegal crossings and allows local authorities to apprehend and remove noncitizens. That measure is still partially pending because of court challenges. Still, its potential implication for mixed-status families brought on increased trepidation. Local sheriffs, such as David Hathaway from Santa Cruz County, have spoken out regarding the strain such enforcement could place on community relations and resources within law enforcement.
In Denver, nonprofits report a surge in urgent calls from families requesting guidance on logistics and legal matters. One local nonprofit leader, Yoli Casas, cited increased questions regarding the granting of power of attorney for children’s care in case of a parent’s deportation. Other calls have come from families wondering how they can prepare their kids in case of a separation.
