Trump spreads Arpaio’s ideas
Beginning in 2014, following intense public pressure, President Barack Obama sensibly narrowed the targets of federal immigration enforcement to serious criminals, recent border crossers and individuals who posed a threat to public safety or national security — a set of priorities that excluded 87 percent of America’s undocumented population.
In contrast, under an executive order issued in January, the Trump administration has declared that anyone “in violation of the immigration laws may be subject to immigration arrest” and eventually deported.
In other words, every one of the approximately 11 million undocumented immigrants in America now constitutes an enforcement priority for our immigration authorities. With the sweep of his pen, the president effectively expanded the Arpaio dragnet nationwide.
Trump’s Department of Homeland Security has also resumed another practice straight from the Arpaio playbook — raids of homes and businesses that serve to terrify immigrant workers and families. In addition, immigration authorities are once again conducting collateral arrests, detaining undocumented immigrants they happen to encounter who aren’t the focus of a particular operation.
Moreover, once in custody and in many instances without legal counsel, immigrants are not afforded the due process they deserve. Many immigrants are not even given a chance to go before a judge through the expanded use of a fast-track procedure called expedited removal.
Finally, Trump intends to dramatically grow the 287(g) program beloved by Arpaio that enables local cops to be deputized as federal immigration agents — an initiative proven to deter immigrants, including survivors of domestic violence, from reporting crimes.
Come on, GOP, fight his agenda
Taken together, these policies represent a full-fledged assault on America’s proud heritage as a nation of immigrants. They are also directly responsible for the deportation of immigrants like Juan Carlos Fomperosa Garcia of Phoenix, a proud father of three U.S. citizen children, and Guadalupe de Rayos Garcia of Mesa, the loving mother of two American teenagers.
In January, I proudly invited Guadalupe’s kids, Angel and Jacqueline, as my guests to Trump’s first address to Congress. I was prouder still when they bravely told the media assembled under the Capitol dome about the grave injustice which had torn their family apart.
Thwarting President Trump’s antiimmigrant agenda will require other acts of courage, and not just from immigrants and their allies.
Ultimately, Joe Arpaio failed to win re-election in part because Republican leaders and voters in Arizona were compelled to say “enough is enough.” Now, at this perilous moment for our country, we desperately need Republicans in Washington who are willing to do the same.
U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego represents Congressional District 7. Twitter: @RepRubenGallego.