At this point, I don’t want to focus on who’s to blame for the tragic election of Donald Trump as President of the United States again. While politicians now debate how to realign their ideological platforms, the immigrant community must prepare to defend itself. Many believe that Trump’s promise to deport 20 million people is, like many of his promises, unsustainable. It’s true that a mass deportation will face significant hurdles. But consider the following:
First, among all the promises Donald Trump made, deportation is the most tangible. He can’t fix the economy. Economists have stated that his tariffs will likely increase inflation. He won’t bring peace to the Middle East; instead, he’ll give a blank check to Netanyahu to do as he pleases in Gaza and Lebanon. He won’t stop the floods, hurricanes, or wildfires—even though many view him as a Messiah. On the contrary, his policies may deepen the issues we’re facing with climate change. But there’s one thing he can do: scapegoat the immigrant community for all the problems the U.S. is facing. Redirecting the anger and frustration caused by his future policies is his best bet to justify his election. It won’t put bread on the table, but when your neighbor is detained in an immigration facility, it will feel like a promise fulfilled.
Second, the U.S. has done this before—twice, in fact. Eisenhower orchestrated Operation Wetback, a military-style operation that deported over 1 million people from June 9 to September 18, 1955. Before that, during the Great Depression, there was the Mexican Repatriation, which expelled around 2 million people. This was carried out by local authorities and private entities while the federal government turned a blind eye. Many might say that was the 1930s and it won’t happen again. But remember that Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a bill making illegal immigration a state crime. Don’t forget another of Trump’s promises: “We’re going to give our police their power back, and we’re going to give them immunity from prosecution.” Also, the promise to end sanctuary cities, where police officers cannot report someone to immigration authorities, further paves the way for mass deportations. So, in that case, if a police officer decides to deport someone at will, would they be held liable or accountable? Just like during the repatriations in the 1930s, the answer is no. The anti-immigrant movement now has a president elected willing to create the legal framework for police, local authorities, and possibly even the military to remove people in the best Eisenhower’s style.
We cannot allow our friends, husbands, wives, parents, children, employees, employers, and students to be taken away. We cannot allow our lives to be torn apart. We must defend our people. For many, deportation is a death sentence. The Biden administration has already sent several flights of Haitians back to hell. Port-au-Prince is in the hands of gangs, and the Haitian government cannot protect those arriving with nothing. It seems that Prime Minister Garry Conille is merely welcoming his citizens, only to throw them to the ravenous gangs, who, like a pack of starving dogs, will tear them apart. This happens because we allow it. The Haitian government does not have to cooperate with deportations. Haiti could simply refuse to accept its citizens. No government is obliged to participate in the evil Trump’s plan to deport 20 million people.
During Trump’s first administration, we learned that he has no respect for international law; we saw that he has no regard for human rights; we witnessed his lack of even basic compassion. Appealing to these values now is a waste of time. We must use every effort to make his plans impossible. We, as citizens of Brazil, Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia, Guatemala, Haiti must demand that our governments refuse to cooperate with Trump’s deportation plan.
The economic and social consequences of receiving hundreds of thousands of deportees are devastating. Many deportees support families in their home countries. They will return jobless to countries where hungry families await them. And if they don’t have families, our countries will face additional problems like providing housing and healthcare. This is for adults. Now imagine a child—or thousands of them—being deported.
If millions are deported, imagine the explosion of crime. It would be reckless to accept hundreds of thousands of people without providing meaningful living conditions, without any future, knowing what happened with the Maras. In the 1990s, the crackdown on gangs in Los Angeles and the eventual deportation of its members to El Salvador gave rise to MS-13 and the 18th Street gangs, for example.
We need to start a campaign to pressure our governments to stop deportations and to press the Biden administration to secure as many protections as possible before Trump takes office in January. The time to act is now.
We can’t wait for a crumb of compassion to fall from Donald Trump’s White House. He’ll enjoy his banquet, and you won’t be invited—instead, your bread will be taken away. We can’t count on random acts of kindness from him, nor on miracles from God. Many voters believe it was God who tipped the balance in Trump’s favor. To them, you’re the devil, and he’s the Messiah. Consider whose side your church will take. The pastor who supposedly prays for you, but voted for Donald Trump, cast that vote so you could be deported along with millions of undocumented people.
Prepare for the worst: save money, organize your neighbors, seek allies, write letters and petitions to our governments and the Biden administration, learn how to stay safe from deportation, stay informed—but above all, raise your fist and be ready. You have nothing left to lose.