Friends, it appears that we are on the cusp of both an immigration reign of terror and a transformation of the way government works in the United States. I do not believe Trump was elected to turn American democracy into a dictatorship. He was elected primarily because of the post-covid unhappiness and worry of many Americans caused by the inflation which happened during the last two years of the Biden presidency. We Democrats also lost many in the working class—which historically has been our base– because of their unhappiness with the status quo, particularly the economy, and their distrust of “political correctness” by many Democrats, not because they wanted Trump to deport 11 million undocumented workers, fire the generals and career civil servants, end climate initiatives, shred the social safety net, champion more tax cuts for the ultra-rich, and curtail vaccines and public health initiatives. They voted for him, hoping for an economy that is fairer and where they do not have to struggle from paycheck to paycheck. Why they chose Trump remains a mystery, but it will gradually become obvious to them that they picked the wrong horse when high tariffs and fewer immigrant workers cause more inflation and government social safety net programs are decimated. But that will take time. And what are we to do in the meantime—especially regarding the draconian deportation of undocumented immigrants?
Some have cautioned not to take Trump’s pledge to imprison and deport 11 million undocumented residents seriously. There is no way he could pull this off, they argue. He will surely move to the center. Some of these are the same people that said that before passing judgement on Trump’s pledge to unravel what he calls the deep state we should look at whom he appoints as cabinet members and advisors. During his first term, they were mostly moderates and capable people, Well, not this time.The evidence is now in. Trump’s nominations include crackpots, sex offenders, and nutcases. No one he has nominated has the experience required to run a government department and all are sycophants.
What can we do? The starting point is the American Civil Liberties Union. For months the ACLU has been anticipating what Trump will do if reelected.
The ACLU maintains that Trump will not be able to accomplish his objectives on immigration without violating federal laws and the U.S. Constitution. They sued the government during Trump’s first term numerous times and won lawsuits that stopped the separation of families at the border, the arbitrary termination of asylum, stripping away the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), and adding a citizenship question to the 2020 census. They believe that many of Trump’s likely deportation actions starting in 2025 will run afoul of the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures, including arrests and detentions without individualized suspicions. They also cite the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments, which guarantee equal protection of the laws by law enforcement and point out that there is no exception for immigrants. They also contend that there is no inherent rule in the Constitution or anywhere else that distinguishes legal protections for U.S. citizens that exclude undocumented people–“not language, not place of birth, not even the manner of their entry into the United States.” Specifically, the Fifth Amendment due process clause and the Constitution Suspension Clause also safeguard the writ of habeaus corpus, which protects individuals against unlawful imprisonment. The ACLU also believes that diverting funds to build the detention camps violates federal funding statues and that federalizing the National Guard and deploying the military to carry out deportation is illegal. The ACLU has won many cases involving these unconstitutional and illegal government actions in the past and is geared up to take these on again. They provide a set of legal guardrails that could stop the worst from happening. But then again, who knows what will happen with the Robert’s Supreme Court?
Another potential guard rail is provided by sanctuary cities. Many cities, counties and states have passed laws that limit cooperation with the federal government regarding immigration by declaring themselves “sanctuary cities.” The term refers to a city (or a county, or a state) that limits its cooperation with federal immigration enforcement agents to protect low-priority immigrants from deportation, while turning over those who have committed serious crimes. In mid 2024 there were approximately 600 sanctuary jurisdictions of differing sizes across the country.
In January 2017, Trump signed an executive order requiring sanctuary cities to comply with federal immigration laws or else have federal funding pulled. But in April of that year, a San Francisco judge blocked the order saying that the president had overstepped his powers by trying to tie billions in federal funding to immigration enforcement. Only Congress could place such conditions on spending.
There are also “welcoming cities,” which are pro-immigration but not specifically opposed to federal action which affects immigrants. While sanctuary policies focus on not cooperating with immigration authorities, welcoming cities are more generally focused around creating a welcoming and supportive environment for immigrants, though this does not preclude opposing federal deportations. There are currently 24 certified “welcoming jurisdictions” in the U.S. Many of those that do not prohibit cooperation are considering adding that to their charter.
The good news is that some guard rails are in place to slow down the deportation process and that there will be opposition to Trump’s mass deportation of immigrants. The bad news is that we are not sure that the guard rails will hold or that they will significantly impair Trump’s deportation promises.
While the situation is terrifying to those who are not documented and to those who love them, I am hopeful that the worst will be averted. Some of the guardrails will hold, and there will be pushback from many others who will be horrified when they realize what is happening. While we are flawed, we are not an evil country. Good and decent people are in the majority. People will not sit idly by and watch the pain and suffering happen without taking action.
There will be a Resistance Movement. But what will the Resistance Movement look like? I think that the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s and the Anti War Movement in the 1970s provide some clues. Embry and I were both involved in the Civil Rights Movement when we worked with SNCC in Southwest Georgia in 1966. We also participated in protests against the Vietnam War. I believe that when the arrests and deportations start, we will see mass demonstrations, protests, marches, and peaceful civil disobedience like what happened more than fifty years ago. The main question I have is who is going to lead this effort. Is there a Martin Luther King Jr out there somewhere (who is an immigrant) or others who will inspire and rally people to the cause? What will our institutions do, especially the churches? This seems like a perfect opportunity for churches to provide asylum and protection and to take a stand against Trump’s deportation actions and for church leaders to step up to the plate. This will be a time when people will have to make decisions–to join the Resistance or not. Sitting this one out is a tacit endorsement of the Trump agenda.
Let the Resistance Movement begin now!
A fine look forward. There are a lot of obstacles to chaotic government.
Joe,
Suggest you change the name to something other than Resistance, as such a name traces to the WWII French terrorist movement, an underground that accomplished its ends through assassination of German military leaders and common soldiers in occupied France. Not all were openly violent, but those who were were the vassals of Uncle Joe Stalin, our long time arch enemy but wartime bedfellow. I don’t think that’s the kind of opposition that you have in mind.
DeFacto
Good point. For someone who was a medical student, you know a lot of history. Going forward I will come up with another name.
From his promises and appointments, it looks like Trump is trying to break the system. But not sure if breaking the system is going to work out so well for him and his followers.
Just taking the deportation of millions of immigrants “on Day One”… A huge portion of our agricultural workforce is comprised of immigrants – the folks who work in the fields, pick our fruits and vegetables, and toil in the meat packing industry.
Taking out these folks would have an immediate negative impact on our nation’s food supply and our grocery prices – a consequence that would seem against what Trump supporters thought they were voting for.
It’s anybody’s guess what will happen as a result. But maybe stock up on food in the coming weeks, just in case.
The same type of thing could be said for much of what appears to be in the works: undermining childhood vaccines, banning agricultural imports, instituting 10-20% across-the-board tariffs, cutting $2 trillion from the federal budget, etc.
(Imagine, Joe, if the polio vaccine had never been invented or embraced? Maybe reprise some of your older posts about that.)
Thanks, Jim. Scary times to say the least. In a recent visit to my internist,I was told I have a high blood pressure issue. All due to Trump and the election but I fear it is going to get worse, much worse, before it gets better.
Thanks for these posts, Joe. Lots to talk about but I am reluctant to put my thoughts and questions down in this format. I know at least one undocumented person in the KW. But I am also frustrated because I feel deeply that I want to DO something, but all it seems I can do is donate more money to politicians.
Where are the Pete Seegers?
Hi Virginia,
I’m not sure I have it figured out but I don’t think we are as powerless as we feel. We don’t have to give money. but if we are up to it, we can give a little time each week to calling representatives and writing postcards. Do you have a local Indivisible organization? More ideas in my response to Joe’s post below.
Take care!
I enjoyed the back and forth…
The Hispanics who are doing the roof next door work from morning till night and past dark, all through Sunday
and they work fast. No unions here and no way would WASPs do this work. I would bet some of these guys probably do not have papers, but I don’t know that for sure.
Our house cleaner and her husband are Hispanic and barely speak English. They have a large base of clients and they do well. They work hard and we are very happy with them. We went to their wedding and represented a small scattering of non-Hispanics.
Re: your HBP Joe, I am trying to calm my anxiety down but find it still at a pitch above anything normal or liveable. My Prostate CA has recurred. I will go on testosterone block tomorrow and hope for the best.
Sam, So sorry to hear this and will put you on my prayer list. My blood pressure is now in the danger zone. Trump is doing us all in and he hasn’t even taken the oath of office yet. I am no longer allowed to say the “T word” or anything about him while I am in the presence of Embry.
Thank you so so much Joe for this great post urging us onward and for providing us a place to find community and brainstorm.
I’m so sorry to read about the health problems. I completely relate. The very sight of the orange man or his acolytes ruins my day, my mood, my sleep, my blood pressure, raises cortisol and causes weight gain, back pain, neck pain, etc.
It’s a concern to pay attention to. In addition to the terrible toll on immigrants, the toll this will take on our health as empathetic progressives is very very real. We MUST prioritize our mental and physical health to get through this and to ensure we are able to help the vulnerable. We have to put on our oxygen masks first – and know what that means for us as individuals. This is different for everyone.
For my part, I can no longer read news not even the late night comedy shows. My husband, on the other hand, although a very sensitive guy, can read 3 newspapers a day and watch Colbert and the Daily show with out much problem.
My current approach is to hide my head in the sand to save my health but keep my hands outside the sand and active to help.
I have written postcards to voters in a runoff race for the Supreme Court in Mississippi
(You can write too! Join@tonythedemocrat.org)
and am making phone calls to elected representatives
(You can too! https://5calls.org/2025/?utm_source=5calls&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=get-prepared-for-2025-with-5-calls )
For example, this week, I can call our governor to ask him not to assist with mass deportations :
https://5calls.org/issue/deny-mass-deportation-assistance/
I can call representatives to ask them to deny recess appointments so the craziest and most criminal don’t get appointed to the Cabinet :
https://5calls.org/issue/stop-hr-9495-nonprofit-terrorism/?utm_source=5calls&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=get-prepared-for-2025-with-5-calls
AND I can urge representatives stop Orange man from censoring opponents as terrorists:
https://5calls.org/issue/stop-hr-9495-nonprofit-terrorism/?utm_source=5calls&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=get-prepared-for-2025-with-5-calls
There are actions all of us can take, even if we don’t live in a state.
Another example, I subscribe to this helpful newsletter that suggests weekly actions:
https://americansofconscience.com/subscribe/
Bon courage and take care all please!
Thank you so so much Joe for this great post urging us onward and for providing us a place to find community and brainstorm.
I’m so sorry to read about the health problems. I completely relate. The very sight of the orange man or his acolytes ruins my day, my mood, my sleep, back pain, neck pain, etc.
In addition to the terrible toll on immigrants, the toll this will take on our health as empathetic people is very very real.
If we all keel over or get very sick from the stress of watching the antics of the dark forces- they win. At the same time, if we all feel powerless and throw up our hands and do nothing – they win.
It’s a tough dilemma. We MUST prioritize our mental and physical health to get through this and to ensure we are able to help our country, the world and the vulnerable where we can.
We have to put on our oxygen masks first – and know what that means for us as individuals. This seems to be different for everyone.
For my part, I’m taking the advice of a dear cousin and listening to great works of music and reading uplifting literature and exercising as much as I can. I can no longer read/listen to news not even the late night comedy shows. My husband, on the other hand, although a very sensitive guy, can read 3 newspapers a day and watch Colbert and the Daily show with out much problem. I ask him to put on earphones.
At the same time, I don’t want to be Pollyanna. My goal is to stay just enough in the loop to help.
My current imperfect approach is to hide my ears and eyes in the sand to save my health but keep my brain and hands outside the sand and active whenever I can.
So I read Joe’s posts!!! and I get the newsletters of our local Indivisible and Refugee assistance groups – all suggest multiple ways to help.
For example, this past week I wrote postcards to voters in a runoff race for the Supreme Court in Mississippi
(There are more local runoff races coming!
Join@tonythedemocrat.org)
Also, this week, I can call our governor to ask him not to assist with mass deportations, tell representatives not to allow recess appointments, protect journalists. our free speech, and MORE!
(You can too! Join:
https://5calls.org )
I also subscribe to this helpful newsletter that suggests weekly actions: https://americansofconscience.com/subscribe/
I feel we can resist the darkness and make a positive difference, but only if we put our health first.
Bon courage and take care Joe and all please!