Hey family,

Undocumented immigrants, battered and bruised by frightening raids that are resulting in deportations without the due process that had been customary, now face a renewed threat as the U.S. government turns its eye to the nation’s biggest cities. 

The administration is doubling down on its hardcore policy of quick detentions and deportations, possibly fueled by what may be President Donald Trump’s embarrassment over last weekend’s massive nationwide “No Kings” protests. The focus, according to the White House, will be on the nation’s three largest cities, New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago.

“I want them to focus on the cities,” Trump said during an appearance at the G7 Summit. “Biden allowed 21 million people to come into our country… Most of those people are in the cities. All blue cities. All Democrat-run cities, and they think they’re going to use them to vote. It’s not gonna happen.”  The administration claims that immigrants are going into cities with Democratic leadership and being allowed to vote. There is no significant, credible evidence of large-scale voter fraud by undocumented immigrants.

This comes after an earlier announcement from Trump that he would be lightening up on raiding farms for migrant workers. But that was short-lived. The White House reneged on that announcement on June 17.

But the cities are not being silent about Trump’s threats. To begin with, an estimated 5 million people showed up in 2,100 locations nationwide to participate in the “No Kings Day” protests against his immigration policies. 

And the nation’s big city mayors have vowed to protect their own authority and safety of their cities’ residents. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson vowed that his government would stand up to any illegal infusion of ICE officials there.

“Whether it’s in the courts, whether it’s in the streets or with policy, we’re going to continue to defend and stand up for working people,” Johnson said, according to WBEZ.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass also recently expressed similar frustration and defiance in a statement made with several Southern California mayors.

“Mayors across the L.A. region and the country have spoken out unequivocally against these reckless raids and the Trump administration’s chaotic escalation here in Los Angeles,” said Bass. “When you raid Home Depots and workplaces, when you tear parents and children apart, and when you deploy troops to our streets, you’re not trying to keep anyone safe – you’re trying to cause fear and panic. These raids must stop.”

For his part, while talking about the “No Kings” protests, New York Mayor Eric Adams spoke in defense of federal immigration raiders and said that they instead of immigrants would be protected.

“You’re not going to impede federal authorities from taking their actions, and that’s just what we were able to accomplish,” Adams, who is running for re-election as an independent, said on Fox News.

The effort is all a part of the Trump administration’s mass deportation effort. ICE wants to detain at least 3,000 people each day by ICE agents.  The agency’s goal is questionable, given the reported cash burn and overspending by $1 billion.

But advocates for migrants are angered by the continued policy and are vowing to fight it. 

Anna Gallaher, executive director of the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC) said in a prepared statement that Trump is tearing apart families in communities already hurting from ICE enforcement.

“This surge in enforcement is a deliberate and dangerous attempt to sow fear, division, and scapegoating,” said Gallaher. “Our faith calls us to welcome the stranger, protect human dignity, and uphold the sanctity of family. These raids are tearing apart the very fabric of our communities. No child should wake up afraid their parent won’t come home. No family should be targeted based on where they live.”

In response to Trump’s threats, the National Immigrant Justice Center is encouraging people to know their rights ahead of time and advises the following: 

  • Call the American Immigration Lawyers Association at 1-800-954-0254. Also, the Immigration Advocates Network is one of many groups that can aid those who need assistance.

2. Create a safety plan

  • Know your emergency contacts and commit their phone numbers to memory.
  • Put in writing authorization for those contacts to make medical decisions for you and your children.
  • If you are detained, tell your loved ones beforehand to try using ICE’s online detainee locator to find you. 

3.  Keep your documents in a safe place.

  • Keep your identity information and financial information in a place where you know it will be safe. 
  • Pull together documents that show how long you have been in the U.S., with the last two years being most important. Tax returns, utility bills, leases, school records, medical records, bank records all qualify.
  • Be sure your emergency contact can get hold of these papers.
  • Understand the NIJC’s guidance on what to do if you see ICE in your community.

4. Avoid immigration fraud.

  • Take legal advice only from an attorney or accredited representative at a Justice Department-recognized nonprofit. 
  • For lawyers, ask to see their law license. For accredited representatives, ask to see their accreditation documents. Law licences from other countries don’t count.
  • Do not sign documents with false information or blank forms.
  • Ask for copies of anything you do sign.
  • If the advice you get sounds too good to be true, get a second opinion before you file an immigration application.

5. Watch out for digital scams.

  • Be wary of social media posts promising quick problem solvers to immigrants.
  • No U.S. federal agency will reach out to you on WhatsApp or social media.
  • The federal government generally will not contact you by phone with only a few exceptions (like people who are required to check in with ICE).
  • Do not respond and do not send money in any way to people who calls or messages you claiming to be an immigration officer.
  • Do not share misinformation (information that is not verified) on social media.
  • If you have any doubts, contact an attorney.

Also, check out this helpful video from the NIJC.

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