The number of illegal immigrants nationwide is estimated to be 11 million. According to the Department of Homeland Security, about 8.5 million of these people have lived in the country for more than 10 years. The rest have either overstayed their visas or have recently crossed the border without any documentation.
As the Trump administration has vowed to root out illegal immigrants, communities across the country are bracing for the scale of the crackdown while preparing countermeasures. The Korea Daily has compiled the questions that the immigrant community would be curious about in the form of a Q&A.
Who will be subject to deportation?
“If we take into account the promises made during the election period, it is likely that foreigners who have been ordered to be deported will be the first to be targeted. At the same time, those who are awaiting deportation or are in the process of trial for crimes or violations of their stay in the country are also likely.”
LA announced it will not cooperate with the federal enforcement on immigrants.
“The federal government has the authority to arrest undocumented immigrants anywhere in the country and proceed with deportation procedures. If local government law enforcement agencies do not cooperate, it will take more time and manpower, but they will be able to carry out the arrest operation without major flaws. Trump has also declared that he will take necessary measures against ‘sanctuary cities’.”
What is the status of the arrest of undocumented immigrants in LA?
“The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has arrested a total of 1,263 undocumented immigrants in LA County this year alone. Of these, 715 were charged with criminal offenses. Between 2021 and 2024, nearly 20,000 people were arrested. More than 7,200 people were confirmed to be suspected of committing a crime. Arrests and deportations have been taking place regardless of change in administrations.”
Was there such a measure under the Democratic Party government?
“Yes. More than 1.1 million people were deported during the four years of the Biden administration. More than 1.5 million during the first term of Trump, and more than 3 million during the eight years of the Obama administration. Although we must take into account variables such as the socioeconomic situation of neighboring countries and the current state of American society, no administration has welcomed and unconditionally accepted undocumented immigrants.”
Are those who pay taxes also subject to deportation?
“Experts believe that there will not be many cases of undocumented immigrants who suddenly get arrested and deported unless they are caught committing a crime. But at the very least, the living radius and activities of such undocumented immigrants will be greatly restricted. However, we must wait and see what the new administration will propose as the final guidelines in January next year.”
Will are the downside of becoming the ‘sanctuary city’?
“The mayor’s office gave a somewhat textbook answer to the question, saying, ‘We will protect undocumented immigrants and, on the other hand, we will track down and hold undocumented immigrants accountable for their crimes to the end.’ However, the city also does not know yet the specific scale and conditions of the federal crackdown on undocumented immigrants and thus has no detailed response plan or countermeasures. The city is trying to calm the growing sense of anxiety.”
Will mass deportations proceed without any hindrance?
“There will be growing calls for legal procedures. It is likely to be a very busy time for immigration law attorneys. Many trials will be held to delay and prevent deportation. It is expected that related civil rights organizations will also try to defend the legal procedures set for each case, rather than unconditional mass deportations.”
The budget consumption for mass deportation seems substantial.
“The number of people deported by ICE in 2023 alone was 140,000. The money spent on this operation was $420 million. If the deportation operation expands, an additional budget must be secured and staff must be recruited. Even though Congress is controlled by the Republican Party, adding more to the budget could be another burden.
BY BRIAN CHOI, HOONSIK WOO [woo.hoonsik@koreadaily.com]
