As Donald Trump prepares for his January 20 inauguration following a campaign promising mass deportations, many immigrants are taking proactive steps to secure their status. The New York Times reported on November 24 that immigrants across the U.S. are scrambling to apply for citizenship, secure refugee status, or marry U.S. citizens in anticipation of Trump's proposed policies.

In border regions, individuals are expediting asylum claims before stricter measures take effect. Meanwhile, even permanent residents are increasingly seeking U.S. citizenship, fearing they may also face deportation under new policies.

Venezuelan-born Sergio Teran, interviewed by the Times, applied for citizenship as soon as he became eligible this July, despite holding a green card for five years. "I wanted to act quickly," he said, adding that having a pending citizenship application makes him feel safer.

Anti-Immigration Stance Fuels Anxiety
During his campaign, Trump labeled undocumented immigrants as drivers of societal issues like crime, unemployment, and housing costs. He pledged to declare a national emergency, deploy military forces, and implement large-scale deportations. This has caused widespread fear among immigrant communities, with many turning to immigration attorneys and support organizations for guidance.

According to the Times, there are an estimated 13 million lawful permanent residents in the U.S. and 11.3 million undocumented immigrants. While deportation policies are not new—Trump's first term saw 1.5 million deportations, and the Biden and Obama administrations deported comparable or higher numbers—Trump's plan for mass-scale expulsions would require extensive detention infrastructure, a move unprecedented since the 1950s.

Broader Implications
Tom Homan, Trump's proposed "Border Czar" and former acting director of ICE, stated that while initial efforts will target criminal offenders and those with existing deportation orders, workplace raids and other measures will also be employed to locate undocumented individuals.

The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program recipients are also worried. Trump's first term sought to terminate the program, and ongoing legal challenges could leave DACA beneficiaries in limbo.

Universities and Travel Concerns
Universities are preparing to protect undocumented and international students, with some advising foreign students to avoid leaving the U.S. during winter break to ensure re-entry before Trump's inauguration. Schools like Wesleyan University warned students that remaining in the U.S. before January 20 is the safest course of action, citing the chaos following Trump’s 2017 travel ban targeting certain Muslim-majority countries.

Efforts to safeguard students include supporting their employment authorizations through DACA and finding additional protections where possible.

This atmosphere of uncertainty has led many immigrants to act swiftly, knowing that future policies could profoundly impact their lives.