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| Saul Muñoz, 53, waits for any job opportunities in front of a Home Depot in San Diego on Jan. 20, 2025. Photo by Adriana Heldiz, CalMatters |
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Undocumented immigrants and their families in California braced for significant upheaval as President Donald Trump, newly inaugurated, began issuing executive orders aimed at enabling what he promised would be the largest deportation effort in U.S. history.
“It’s exhausting, constantly thinking about what might happen and not knowing how it will affect my family,” said Frank, a Los Angeles resident who requested anonymity due to his ongoing immigration case.
Advocates noted growing fears among immigrant communities, with parents considering keeping children home from school and families limiting outings to avoid public exposure. Frank, who works as a restaurant cook and entered the U.S. from El Salvador without authorization 20 years ago, expressed a cautious approach: “I’ll stay local, no unnecessary trips. Thankfully, my work is nearby.” His wife Kathleen, a U.S. citizen, described the situation as “terrifying,” worrying about potentially raising their children alone.
During his inaugural speech, Trump previewed a series of executive actions, including the reinstatement of the “Remain in Mexico” policy, which requires asylum seekers to await U.S. court hearings south of the border. He also pledged to end “catch and release” practices and deploy troops to secure the border, framing the situation as a national emergency requiring military involvement.
One executive order designated Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organizations, and another sought to revoke birthright citizenship — a constitutional right ensuring citizenship to anyone born in the U.S. Legal challenges to these policies are expected.
Protests quickly emerged. In San Diego, demonstrators marched from Balboa Park, chanting against Trump’s immigration policies. Alejandro Ortigoza, leader of a group that searches for missing migrants, called the new administration's measures a continuation of past hardships for immigrant communities: “It was bad before, and we expect it to be worse now.”
Despite heightened tensions, life at the border carried on with some semblance of normalcy. Day laborers in Imperial Beach continued seeking work, though many carried documents proving their legal status out of caution. “I don’t think closing the border benefits anyone,” said Juan, a naturalized U.S. citizen from Tijuana who crosses daily for work.
Trump’s actions also reignited debates over sanctuary policies. His administration threatened to withhold federal funds from jurisdictions that limit cooperation with immigration enforcement. California, whose budget heavily relies on federal funds, has long defended its sanctuary policies, which include exemptions for individuals convicted of violent crimes. Legal battles from Trump’s first term suggest this order will face significant challenges.
Local advocates, like Gina Amato Lough of Public Counsel’s Immigrants’ Rights Project, emphasized constitutional protections for everyone, regardless of immigration status. She urged individuals to exercise their rights: “If ICE shows up at your door, you don’t have to open it.”
Trump’s policies are expected to carry economic ramifications. UCLA sociologist Cecilia Menjívar warned of nationwide labor shortages and disruptions in key sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, and construction. The California Welcoming Task Force estimated that deporting millions of undocumented workers could cost billions and exacerbate existing labor crises.
On the Mexican side of the border, activists protested Trump’s policies, painting messages of solidarity on the border wall. The discontinuation of the CBP One app, which facilitated asylum appointments, has left over 270,000 migrants in northern Mexico uncertain about their future. Experts warned this could lead to more irregular crossings and dangerous conditions for those stranded.
Trump’s aggressive immigration agenda signals a turbulent period ahead for immigrant communities, legal systems, and the broader economy.
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