Preparations
Friday morning after the election, I stared at a group of faces on my computer screen from all over Oklahoma. They represented several of the immigration legal service providers that provide low or pro-bono services to immigrants across our state. This is only the second time we had met in as many months; our fledging coalition is beginning to form. As several of them spoke, you could hear anger and frustration in their voices as once again, another administration is coming into power and the entire face of the US immigration landscape changes…what are we going to do to help people? I sat and listened as many of my colleagues threw out suggestions, heads nodded vigorously in agreement. We needed to have a plan and be ready to shift our services to meet the changing needs of immigrants in our state…unfortunately, many of them in the near future may be facing deportation proceedings. I sat and listened intently as I had no knowledge or experience as to what it was like to have practiced immigration law under the now incoming administration. I had heard difficult scenarios but had overall seen previously difficult situations lighten up under the Biden administration. Because of the extreme backlog during Covid, USCIS had gone to adjudicating adjustment of status cases without interviews for most in-country spouses and parents of US citizens.
We have reason to believe that under the new administration, some things will change or at least be challenged…
A focus on deportations of criminals and the encouragement of undocumented individuals to self-deport
DACA to be challenged once again
ICE (Immigration Customs and Enforcement) to perform work place raids
Interviews for immediate family members of US citizens adjusting in the US to resume
A possible ban on immigration from select Muslim countries
A challenge to Temporary Protected Status of people under the Biden administration
A challenge to birthright citizenship-that people born in the US are automatically US citizens despite the citizenship of their parents
As immigration practitioners, we work to see the forthcoming challenges and take them on in a couple of ways…
Preparing our clients by informing them of their rights under US law
Encouraging them if they qualify for immigration relief, to act as soon as possible
Encouraging undocumented and those with temporary status, if they have children or those they care for, to appoint POA to a trusted individual
All, some or none of these things could take place. Knowing the unpredictable nature of the incoming administration, we do not want to create a sense of panic, but instead help people to be prepared. Pray that we would have wisdom and do what is best for our clients and their families.
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound judgment. 2 Timothy 1:7
