- Title: "I'm scared"; Fear growing among migrants ahead of Trump's return to White House
- Date: 26th November 2024
- Summary: CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, UNITED STATES (NOVEMBER 25, 2024) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) BEATRIZ PONCE DE LEÓN, DEPUTY MAYOR OF IMMIGRANT, MIGRANT AND REFUGEE RIGHTS FOR THE CITY OF CHICAGO, SAYING: “As I hear that call to action that the President-elect is making, because he is promising to harm our communities, to deport people, to break apart families. All of that will be d
- Embargoed: 10th December 2024 15:17
- Keywords: BIDEN CHICAGO CRIME CRIMES CUSTOM DEMOCRAT DEPORT DEPORTATION DONALD ENFORCEMENT FAMILIES FAMILY GUATEMALA HARRIS HOMAN HONDURAS ICE ILLINOIS IMMIGRANT IMMIGRANTS IMMIGRATION JD JOE KAMALA MASS MEXICO MIGRANT MIGRANTS MILITARY PRESIDENT REPUBLICAN SANCTUARY TEXAS TIM TOM TRUMP VANCE VENEZUELA WALZ WELCOME WELCOMING
- Location: VARIOUS
- City: VARIOUS
- Country: US
- Topics: Asylum/Immigration/Refugees,North America,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA005248825112024RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: United States of America President-elect Donald Trump's plan to execute "the largest deportation in American history" is raising fears within immigrant communities both in and outside the U.S.
“Of course, I’m scared," said Freddy Rodriguez, a Venezuelan migrant currently living in Chicago. "I don't want to return to my country.”
Rodriguez told Reuters he arrived in Chicago, Illinois, four months ago with his wife and 12-year-old son.
Legally unable to work, the 28-year-old father of one spends his days with a squeegee and squirt bottle, asking motorists at a busy Chicago intersection if they'd like their windshields washed in exchange for a few coins.
“I still don't know what to think because they say so many things,” said Rodriguez. "We will wait for him (Trump) to take over the presidency, to see what happens.”
Trump, who takes office on January 20, said in a social media post that Tom Homan, the former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from his first administration, will be in charge of the country's borders in his new administration.
Homan said he would prioritize deporting immigrants in the United States illegally who pose threats to public safety.
"We will not cooperate with ICE," said Beatriz Ponce de León, Deputy Mayor of Immigrant, Migrant and Refugee Rights for the city of Chicago. "Our CPD (Chicago Police Department) force will not cooperate with ICE unless there is a court order.”
President-elect Trump has promised to "end deadly sanctuary cities” during several campaign rallies.
Homan has vowed to cut federal funding for states that do not cooperate with the administration's promises of mass deportations.
Ponce de León told Reuters Chicago will not be bullied.
“Certainly, we are aware of the threats to withhold some type of funding," said Ponce de León. "If that does come true, it is something we will deal with at that time, but it is something our administration is very careful and thoughtful about.”
Meanwhile, a large group of migrants is making its way toward the United States, traveling in a caravan through Mexico.
“Many of us are very afraid," said Bryan Velazquez, a migrant from Guatemala and one of the organizers of the large caravan. "We ask the government of the United States to help us because there is a lot of need in our countries: violence, extortion, various reasons.”
About 11 million people are living in the U.S. illegally according to a 2022 estimate by the Pew Research Center. The nonpartisan think tank said that estimate is down from a peak of around 12.2 million in 2007.
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