Staff Reports
In the whirlwind of political maneuvering leading up to Inauguration Day, panic has gripped the immigrant community. A sense of urgency has emerged as foreign students and undocumented immigrants scramble to secure their status before the potential arrival of what many fear will be a no-nonsense Trump administration. The urgency is palpable, as colleges have advised students home for winter break to rush back to the U.S. by January 20, lest they find themselves stuck at the airport due to a looming travel ban. Perhaps a little dramatic, but it seems a new trend has taken root: the self-imposed race against the clock.
Groups advocating for illegal immigrants are turning up the heat, encouraging those covered under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program to renew their permits now, which could ultimately buy them at least two more years of protection. This motto of “better safe than sorry” rings especially true when considering Trump’s history with DACA during his first term. After all, it wasn’t exactly a soft touch. The Coalition for Human Immigrant Rights has expressed the urgency of these renewals, framing it as a defensive tactic against the anticipated chaos they perceive coming from Trump’s agenda.
When it comes to immigration policy, Inauguration Day stands out as a prime pivot point. Trump has voiced intentions to undo much of the Biden administration’s work, which has left border control policies in disarray. Activists have taken to their soapboxes, urging immigrants to dig in deep and seek out whatever safeguards they can find. This outcry even extends to calls for the current administration to sabotage the enforcement mechanisms in place before Trump officially takes charge.
Some advocacy groups are sounding the alarm bell with even more audacious proposals, including the idea of seeking a presidential pardon for all undocumented individuals. In an era where rhetoric can sometimes match the absurdity of a late-night infomercial, these calls for desperate measures are coming fast and furious. Meanwhile, various organizations are insisting that legal immigrants consider applying for citizenship before the Trump presidency takes shape, protecting themselves against any unanticipated fallout from the upcoming policy shifts.
Immigrants rush to burrow into the U.S. before Trump’s inaugurationhttps://t.co/x6CEYPIWvD pic.twitter.com/tlqTNk4TRJ
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) November 28, 2024
Fears of impending mass deportations seem fueled more by speculation than factual groundwork. While Trump’s earlier campaigns vocally included a revival of his controversial travel ban—a move that once triggered a media frenzy—some seem to be acting as if the sky is falling with every passing hour. Educational institutions like the University of Massachusetts Amherst have made appeals to international students, urging them to ‘strongly consider’ returning before the transfer of power. Wesleyan University went so far as to tell their students to hightail it back before it’s too late, as if they were facing an impending snowstorm rather than a policy shift.
Amid all the frenzy, DACA remains a contentious issue, with court challenges hanging ominously in the balance. Its future seems uncertain regardless of who occupies the Oval Office, while the demand for renewal grips the hearts—and possibly wallets—of those who’ve relied on the program. Although some on the political left decry the narrative that Trump’s win is a mandate to roll back the existing immigration policies, it appears the alarm bells have been sounded, and the race is on for those wishing to secure their standing in a country that’s always touted itself as a land of opportunity—at least for those who follow the rules.
