Protesters gathered outside Los Angeles City Hall on Friday, November 8 and blasted President-elect Donald Trump’s threatened immigration crackdown once he takes office in January.
Advocates delivered emotional speeches about their dedication to counter upcoming challenges for immigrant communities across the nation.
On Monday, Trump announced that Tom Homan, former director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, will be his “border czar” in charge of the mass deportations that became a rallying cry of the campaign. In an interview on “60 Minutes,” Homan was asked whether it’s possible to avoid separating families that have mixed immigration status.
His response: “Families can be deported together.”
Pedro Trujillo, an organizing director at the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights Los Angeles (CHIRLA), said communities must stand together to protect their rights.
“We want people to think about their cultural wealth and their neighborhood wealth that exists,” he said. “Think about how is it that we can utilize it in a thoughtful, strategic way to support each other in these difficult times that will likely come our way.”
The coalition sponsors legislation promoting labor rights and educational opportunities for immigrants.
Trujillo said the Trump administration poses a serious threat to CHIRLA’s core mission.
Manuela Restrempo, a Columbian immigrant participating in an educational program in Los Angeles, was concerned that the election outcome might hinder her stay in the U.S. She said she came to the U.S. to improve her English and get familiar with American culture.
Brian Capehart, a street vendor in Downtown L.A., gave his perspective on Trump’s immigration plans.
“You need more humility, more love towards people,” he said, adding that he thinks it is crucial to bring people together and embrace diversity.
Jean Reisz, co-director of the Immigration Clinic at USC Gould School of Law, said people are worried about the uncertainty.
“There are people who are feeling extreme anxiety, extreme fear,” she said. “There are so many U.S. citizens who are married to people who are undocumented. People are preparing themselves — what are they going to do? What are their children going to do? It’s a very fearful time.”
Reisz says it may take litigation to stop massive deportations.
Brianna Rieux contributed to the reporting of this article.