GROWING CONCERN FROM BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY LEADERS ABOUT IMPACT OF MASS DEPORTATION
There’s been a daily drumbeat of coverage about the growing consensus from business and industry voices that Trump’s signature policy agenda – a violent mass deportation plan, stripping protections from millions of immigrants here legally and threatening massive tariffs related to immigration flows – will hit key U.S. sectors and consumers hard, spike inflation and devastate our economy. “We will absolutely have a labor shortage,” George Fuller, a Texas mayor and self-described Reagan Republican, told the Wall Street Journal. “Whether you want to acknowledge it or not, these industries depend on immigrant labor.” In his must-read piece at The New Republic, Greg Sargent wrote that “agriculture interests, which are heavily concentrated in GOP areas, are urging the incoming Trump administration to refrain from removing untold numbers of migrants working throughout the food supply chain, including in farming, dairy, and meatpacking.” The fact is that the Trump-Stephen Miller plan to deport millions who live and work here will harm every American, including those who voted to return them to office due to cost worries. “We expect buyer’s remorse from voters when their wallets, neighborhoods and congregations are touched by Trump’s deportation plans,” said Douglas Rivlin, Senior Communication Director for America’s Voice, “but it is not too late for key leaders inside the Republican coalition in business, faith, government and law enforcement sectors to speak out against the impending damage.” Read more here.
LATINO SENATORS CALL ON PRESIDENT BIDEN TO STEP UP FOR TPS AND DACA HOLDERS
Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) and Alex Padilla (D-CA) are calling on President Biden to “act decisively” and use his remaining weeks in office to protect Dreamers and TPS holders ahead of the Trump administration’s stated plans to strip protections and make as many individuals as possible eligible for deportation. In the letter, the leaders urge the Biden administration to designate, redesignate, and extend TPS for eligible countries, including Ecuador, Nicaragua, and El Salvador, as well as process all DACA and Advance Parole requests “as expeditiously as possible.” The senators have made the ask as Trump’s ghastly pledge to conduct the “largest deportation operation in the history of our country” even includes those with DACA, TPS or other legal status who have been here for decades and regularly go through and pass criminal background and biometric tests for in order to renew their protections. “As a result, it’s essential that the Biden administration and allies – from businesses that employ DACA recipients and TPS holders to everyday Americans who are worried about their friends, co-workers and neighbors – stand up and speak out against mass deportations and do everything possible to protect and support immigrants already playing a vital role in our nation,” said Douglas Rivlin. Read more here.
DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON, UNDOCUMENTED FAMILIES PREPARE FOR THE WORST
In her weekly column, America’s Voice consultant Maribel Hastings writes that while most Americans are readying for the busyness of the upcoming holidays, millions of undocumented families are preparing contingency plans in case Trump’s violent mass deportation agenda becomes reality. “That’s nothing new because, if I have learned anything throughout my years of contact with this sector of the population, it’s that — for the most part — they always have a plan at hand in case they are detained, especially if they have been in the United States for decades and have citizen children.” Others also at risk of mass deportation include Dreamers, many of whom have established families, contribute billions in taxes, and would face removal to nations they don’t even remember. While some of Trump allies have tried to assuage worries by insisting that “criminals” will be targeted, incoming “border czar” Thomas Homan, described as the “intellectual father” of the cruel and traumatic family separation policy, has repeatedly said no one is off the table. That includes long-settled immigrants worried that the upcoming holiday season could be their last here. “This month of festivities, and at the dawn of a new year, while others plan celebrations, there are millions of undocumented people who are workers, family members, neighbors, or friends who are preparing for the worst,” Hastings concludes. Her column was also published in several outlets, including La Opinión, La Tribuna Hispana, and Hispanic LA. Read her column in English here and Spanish here.
WHO IS DHS SECRETARY NOMINEE KRISTI NOEM?
Trump’s mass deportation team has been taking shape, and it is alarming, as expected. Trump announced that he has selected South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem as his nominee for secretary of Homeland Security, joining Stephen Miller and Thomas Homan to carry out their “bloody” mass deportation agenda. But Noem has virtually no experience in many of the department’s most critical responsibilities, including transportation security, border security, Coast Guard operations, and in particular counterterrorism, which affects the safety of all Americans. Where Noem has fulfilled a requirement is an allegiance to Trump’s nativist vision, including failing to condemn the family separation policy, supporting efforts to make Dreamers deportable, and boosting white nationalist “invasion” conspiracy theory. This same conspiratorial rhetoric has inspired a pattern of deadly terrorist attacks across the U.S. in recent years. The current DHS secretary warned that the normalization of such rhetoric increases the threat landscape that the department – and the nation – faces. The Bulwark noted that Noem’s nomination “was buried in the landslide of even more absurd nominees,” including now-former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, another unqualified Trump pick who eventually withdrew his nomination for U.S. Attorney General over horrific sexual misconduct allegations. With national security at play, Noem’s nomination deserves further scrutiny from senators. Read more here.
THIS GIVING WEEK, HELP US DO OUR WORK ADVOCATING FOR THE 11 MILLION
This year’s election outcome is a stark reminder: our work is more critical than ever. As we prepare for a second Trump term, the stakes for the 11 million undocumented immigrants couldn’t be higher. America’s Voice remains steadfast in our mission to counter anti-immigrant narratives and fight for a future rooted in dignity and justice for immigrants. Click here to donate now and be part of our collective voice advocating for families across the country.
YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS THIS
We join our friends and partners in celebrating the monumental news that Guerline Jozef, Executive Director of Haitian Bridge Alliance and a leader from our movement, has been named to the prestigious BBC 100 Women list for 2024. “Under Jozef’s leadership, Haitian Bridge Alliance has become a leading voice in addressing the systemic injustices faced by Haitians and other migrants, particularly in the wake of increasing global migration challenges,” the organization said. “Her work has garnered widespread attention and respect, emphasizing the need for compassion-driven policies and fostering alliances across communities to advocate for human rights.” Her work has also been life-saving, as a forceful voice against the unjust deportation of vulnerable Haitians back to uncertainty and danger. She joins a prestigious list of current and past honorees who have been pushing for change on various fronts both here at home and abroad, including on the issues of climate, human and civil rights, and health care. “This recognition stands as a testament to the resilience and courage of those we serve, as well as a call to action for our team at HBA to continue our relentless pursuit of justice and equity,” Jozef said. “This accolade belongs to the entire HBA family whose tireless efforts drive the vision and mission of our organization.” America’s Voice congratulates Guerline and the entire Haitian Bridge Alliance team on this honor. Click here to view the entire BBC 100 Women 2024 list.
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