Staff Reports
In Los Angeles, Winston Leiva has taken to educating immigrants on how to brace for the impending doom of increased deportations promised by President-elect Donald Trump upon his return to the White House. Apparently, the best way to prepare for a government that enforces laws is to put together a plan for your kids to be cared for if you get arrested—classic. Leiva’s advice includes a tip to never open the door unless a government authority slides a signed judicial warrant underneath. Because apparently, conveying a proper sense of authority is too much to ask for in an age when even pizza delivery guys know to ring the doorbell.
At a workshop run by the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, complete with an enormous American flag and a colorful mural featuring civil rights icons, participants were told to remain silent if they encounter law enforcement. This begs the question: if this is about rights, where is the right to expect people to obey the law in the first place? Unfortunately, rather than embracing the rule of law, immigrant advocacy groups are busy preparing for a huge ‘survivor’ episode that nobody really asked for.
Across the country, so-called advocates from Utah to Massachusetts are hosting “know-your-rights” gatherings. This effort seems to signal a reverse trend, where they seek to empower individuals to dodge legal accountability rather than encouraging compliance with immigration laws. This is particularly prominent in states like California and Illinois, which proudly implement measures that obstruct rather than support lawful immigration processes. And Florida, known for its more stringent laws, is just left scratching its head as officials grapple with a system that the federal government has actually started to enforce.
The urgency to apply for U.S. citizenship before the Trump administration allegedly kicks off its grand deportation crusade also raises eyebrows. It seems intriguing that there’s a mad rush to get legal protections now, rather than over the past few years when there was ample opportunity. Almost as if people knew what was coming—a little late to that realization party, don’t you think?
Advocates train immigrants to ‘prepare to stay’ in the U.S. under Trumphttps://t.co/9yq7wbzqOD pic.twitter.com/nEREbtTOta
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) December 19, 2024
In typical activist fashion, groups are even offering free services to help those who qualify for legal status but lack the funds for proper legal counsel. Naturally, they frame themselves as heroes in a battle against “Trump’s authoritarian regime,” even while they sidestep any mention of the laws governing immigration. It’s as if they’re more concerned about public sentiment than the law itself. And what’s this about feeling demoralized because the electorate has “elected to go back to it”? Maybe the American people just prefer living under a system that enforces laws rather than glamorizing chaos.
Fear is the prevailing sentiment amongst these communities, but not because of Trump’s policies; rather, it stems from the idea that the rule of law might actually be enforced. Advocates claim they’re fielding panicked communication from people of all legal statuses. But as Donald Trump’s team prepares for the largest deportation movement in American history, the real question looms: shouldn’t everyone, regardless of their immigration status, be a little fearful of breaking the law? The subtext here is clear: embracing lawlessness while claiming to fear the consequences isn’t exactly a sound strategy.
