ILAP Community Update: February 7
February 7, 2025
Dear Community,
As rapid changes in immigration law and policy keep coming, our communities across the nation are rising up against anti-immigrant hate and rejecting "us-versus-them" narratives.
More than 600 members of American Jewish clergy delivered a letter to the administration affirming their commitment to standing up for the rights and dignity of those seeking safety in our country. Businesses across the country participated in A Day Without Immigrants on February 3 - one diner in Oklahoma released a statement saying “Immigrants…are the backbone of our kitchens, our service, and our culture. Today, we stand with them.” Massive demonstrations in solidarity with immigrants are happening across the nation. Local law enforcement and officials are making it clear they will not be handing over their public safety resources to the Trump administration’s anti-immigrant crusade. And here in Maine, we have been inspired by so many people taking action to protect and support their friends, families, neighbors, co-workers, and fellow community members.
As we continue on in the president’s first 100 days, ILAP will work to provide regular community updates on key announcements to watch and help our community take action. Please help grow our community and impact by inviting others in your network to sign up here: https://ilapmaine.org/connect.
TAKE ACTION: Defend Venezuelan TPS Holders
The Trump administration is continuing its efforts to strip immigration status and work permits from people already in the U.S. and has taken steps to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuela. This decision will impact more than half a million people, including communities here in Maine.
Arbitrary detentions, killings of citizens by the government, suppression of political opposition, and a collapsed economy continue to warrant TPS for Venezuela and make safe return impossible.
Send a Message to Your Representatives
Congress is a crucial check on the Trump administration’s anti-immigrant agenda.
Send a message to your representatives now to call on them to protect TPS for Venezuela.
Immigration Law & Policy Updates:
Below is a summary of some of the actions the Trump administration has taken on immigration from late January through February 6, 2025.
PLEASE NOTE: All updates are subject to rapid change.
Immigration Announcement:
Nationwide injunction in place on Trump’s birthright citizenship Executive Order
What It Means:
A federal judge in Maryland issued a nationwide preliminary injunction, temporarily halting President Trump's executive order to end birthright citizenship.
One of the pregnant plaintiffs in the case, from Venezuela, expressed fear that her baby would be born stateless as there would be no way to obtain a birth certificate from her country. Stateless people do not have any nationality or citizenship – or the rights and protections – of any country in the world.
Trump administration begins using
Guantanamo Bay in mass enforcement
An internal memo from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) detention capacity is already at 109%. President Trump issued an Executive Order to use the maximum capacity (30,000 people) at Guantanamo Bay to house people who are detained by immigration enforcement.
The first flight to Guantanamo Bay occurred on February 4. ILAP joins the Haitian Bridge Alliance and others strongly condemning this inhumane move that risks indefinite detention and is a violation of international law and treaties, a huge cost to U.S. taxpayers, and more.
Attacks on the Immigration
Court System
Treatment of children:
The Trump administration eliminated prior guidance to immigration judges on treating children in immigration proceedings with sensitivity and reminding judges of the complex nature of these cases.
No one in the immigration system – including children – is guaranteed an attorney and children may appear in court alone. The previous guidance recommended judges take the time to help children understand why they are in court, to use appropriate language and tone for kids, and other steps to minimize trauma.
Dismantling of legal access programs and assistance navigating court:
The Trump administration issued a memo finding that Department of Justice programs that facilitate access to legal assistance and due process for unrepresented, low-income people to be “wasteful.” The administration issued a stop-work order to the non-profit organizations who staff these programs via federal funding but rescinded the order after non-profits filed a lawsuit to challenge and secured a temporary restraining order.
The administration also eliminated a crucial resource for unrepresented people to receive assistance in navigating complex court hearings (from attorneys not officially representing clients as well as other advocates).
Department of Homeland Security eliminates previous requirement to assess whether a person is a victim of a crime before taking enforcement action against them
Under previous guidance, ICE was required to take a victim-centered approach to enforcement work and to try to determine if a person is a crime victim before taking enforcement action. That is no longer required under the Trump administration.
Under existing laws and longstanding humanitarian programs created by Congress, victims of domestic violence, human trafficking, and other crimes who aid law enforcement may be eligible for protection from deportation. There is a strong public safety benefit for everyone when victims and survivors can come forward and report crimes. The Trump administration’s end of a victim-centered approach will harm victims and decrease overall public safety.
PLEASE NOTE: Despite misinformation out there, included related to this memo, VAWA, U and T visa programs have NOT been cancelled or terminated at this time!
Congressional oversight begins over Trump administration diverting funds from critical programs to conduct immigration enforcement
Members of the House Judiciary Committee have sent an oversight letter to the Department of Justice regarding the Trump administration’s “directives that remove law enforcement officials from critical crime prevention, counterterrorism and drug interdiction missions, and task them instead with arresting and detaining undocumented immigrants who pose no threat to public safety.”
Diverting these resources would endanger the American public at large.
Immigrant rights groups sue over Trump administration’s attacks on asylum access at the border
A number of immigrants’ rights organizations have joined forces in a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s attempt to shut down asylum access at the border.
The organizations cite the administration’s overreach in power and that asylum is the law of the United States and not something a president can unilaterally eliminate.
For previous updates from ILAP, check out the links below:
Know Your Rights
An important step you can take now to protect yourself is to learn your rights! See ILAP’s resources here.
Stay Connected:
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