Ever since President Trump decided to run for office in 2024, many predicted that immigration would become a bigger issue in the U.S. than ever before. Though many Trump voters are happy to see that fewer immigrants are crossing the border compared to a year ago, many others have protested Trump’s executive orders on immigration. This includes recent protests, like the “No Kings” protest in June, thought by some to be the largest single-day protest in U.S. history, as well as the “Day without Immigrants” economic protest earlier this year.
There’s a lot of immigration news to keep up with since Inauguration Day, such as the new ICE policies, IRS and ICE exchanging data for more efficient raids, and also the LA protest, Trump sending out military troops to these protests, and much more. Here’s a break down of what people need to know about the state of immigration in the United States as of July.
The new ICE policy
On Jan. 20, the Department of Homeland Security released new rules for both U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and border patrol agents on how to handle immigration enforcement near or in “sensitive areas.” This new rule states that immigration officers should keep using good judgment and also common sense when it comes to deciding whether to take action near a protected place, such as schools, hospitals, and also worship. This new policy replaced an old policy from 2021.
A day later after the “DHS Directive Enforcement Actions in or Near Protected Areas” was released to the public, and another policy was released a day after that for ICE called the “ICE Directive Enforcement Actions in or Near Courthouses”.
Instead of strict rules about where immigration laws can and can’t be enforced, ICE local leaders such as Assistant Field Office Directors and Assistant Special Agents in Charge are able to decide every case whether, when, and where to act near a protected area according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Soon after in March, the “Enforcement Actions in or Near Places of Worship — Injunction” policy was released, meaning that ICE must follow the court orders that limit immigration enforcement around 1,400 places of worship across 36 states.
According to this injunction, ICE cannot execute the two new memos from January of this year, unless they (ICE) has a proper warrant. Instead, they must follow from a 2021 memo by Secretary Mayorkas. ICE still can raid these places but only if they have a valid warrant with them, and they still must follow rules as well, especially when there are other people around which was stated from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Due to the many policies coming up some students, parents, children, and many others became worried of what ICE could do.
L.A. immigration protests
In downtown Los Angeles, immigration protests were held throughout June. There were a total of about 1,200 people who participated in the protest, 338 of those people were arrested according to BBC News.
The City of Los Angeles reported back in 2022 that one in three people or 3.6 million who were living in Los Angeles were immigrants according to the USC Dornsife. And since their immigrant population is so large, many people were noticing many ICE agents raiding or detaining immigrants.
On June 6, downtown Los Angeles officially started to protest about the situation and that ICE was raiding places with a high immigration population.
“The demonstrations began on Friday after it emerged Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers were carrying out raids in areas of the city with prominent Latino populations.” BBC News reported on June 11. “Raids have stepped up after Trump returned to the White House and pledged to crack down on illegal immigration. The BBC’s US partner, CBS News, reported that recent operations took place in the Westlake district as well as in Paramount, south of LA – where the population is more than 82% Hispanic.”
However, Los Angeles isn’t the only place protesting about immigration, there are many protests all over America who are also protesting this matter at hand. Such as: Chicago, San Francisco, Santa Ana, Boston, New York, Washington, Philadelphia, Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio, Seattle, and also Atlanta.
During these several days of the LA immigration protest, however, President Trump sent over 2,000 National Guards and 700 Marines to the Los Angeles immigration protest. According BBC News this has been the first time since 1965 that National Guards were sent over without the governor’s request of one
Due to President Trump sending over military troops to the protest, the Governor of California Gavin Newsom and the Mayor of Los Angeles Kerna Bass stated that by sending over troops, tension between protesters would increase. Soon after that they announced a lawsuit against President Trump.
“Donald Trump is creating fear and terror by failing to adhere to the U.S. Constitution and overstepping his authority,” Newsom said in an official announcement. “This is a manufactured crisis to allow him to take over a state militia, damaging the very foundation of our republic.”
“Every governor, red or blue, should reject this outrageous overreach,” Newsom continued. “This is beyond incompetence — this is him intentionally causing chaos, terrorizing communities, and endangering the principles of our great democracy. It is an unmistakable step toward authoritarianism. We will not let this stand.”
According to Newsom, President Trump is failing to adhere to the U.S. Constitution and overstepping his authority, by illegally sending over military troops to Los Angeles and using them against citizens of the United States.
IRS and ICE
On April 8, ICE announced that the IRS will be sharing data to ICE of undocumented immigrants paying their taxes. ICE intended to use this to continue enforcement cases, because of this it caused many undocumented immigrants not willing to pay taxes.
During tax season, undocumented immigrants paid $96.7 billion to the U.S. government. According to the Institute and Economic Policy, a nonprofit tax policy organization undocumented immigrants paid around $59.4 billion that went to the federal government in 2022 and around $37.3 billion to the state and local government.
But NBC News reported that, according to a recent analysis, 10% decrease in the number of undocumented immigrants filling out their taxes, meaning that there will be $9.5 billion deficit in tax revenue.
How it affects communities
At MCHS, many students who are worried for their family and for their safety as well ever since the ICE raids started to show.
“I have had students have approached me,” Otto Corzo, a student counselor at MCHS “sent me emails concern for their families, sometimes even for well, like parents specifically, and I would even say, like older siblings.”
With many students that share their concerns with their councilors, they’ve also told them some personal scary experiences worrying about the “what if’s” on what will happen to them.
“Yes, students have noticed,” Corzo said. “Well, early on, students were reaching out because they were informed via social media that there were ICE raids or ice vehicles in Crystal Lake in Woodstock, Harvard, I would say, Johnsburg, as well. So they felt like it was getting a little too close to home, and they were scared that if they went home, they wouldn’t, they wouldn’t, they wouldn’t find their families. And one student in particular shared that ice was outside of their home.”
There are many students with many concerns on what is going on with all of the sightings of ICE around their town or county. Making them feel more and more uneasy.
“Definitely don’t think it’s okay because these people are paying taxes and at the end of the day, they’re also like a dad, a son,” an MCHS student named Arturo* said “like they’re still people, so I don’t think it’s okay unless they’re doing something like killing people or something really bad.”
With many people who think it’s wrong to deport people who are doing the right thing, because it increases the chances of families getting separated not knowing what to do.
“It definitely does make me feel very worried all the time,” Arturo said, “because of my family. A lot of them are not. They’re not legal. So, it’s very hard to hear about that.”
There have been many organizations, programs, and more who try to help immigrants, by many ways, by either telling their rights, making plans if something happened, and more. But during this process many people such as the Alianza Hispanoamericana NFP who have heard many heartbreaking stories of what other people are going through when it comes to immigration.
“We have unfortunately encountered numerous deeply upsetting situations,” said Jessica Laffredi, from Alianza Hispanoamericana NFP, “and it is heartbreaking to witness the pervasive fear among families concerned about potential separation. Every immigrant’s journey is unique, yet each story underscores a compelling reason for leaving their home country. The constant anxiety of possible deportation is a heavy burden for individuals and families, even during routine activities such as going to work.”
With many people in fear about their family and constant worry if they will get deported, there are many places that people look for such as the Alianza Hispanoamericana NFP to find support or other nearby programs as well.
“At Alianza Hispanoamericana NFP, we are committed to supporting our community members by providing services to those who may be eligible for legal remedies and assistance. If I could offer any guidance to those worried about ICE, it would be to remember that being undocumented is not a criminal offense; rather, it is considered a civil violation.”
But for many families who don’t know what to do or prepare for the worst case scenario, there are a few local programs in McHenry that could help those who are struggling. Such as the Youth and Family Center , where on their website calendar they host a “Know your rights meeting” for people wanting to know and prepare for the worst case senior.
There are also a few other programs beside YFC as well. Such as the ICIRR and also Illinois Advocates Network and can help residents learn more about their rights.