State immigration advocates plot strategy for Trump’s deportation plans

Illinois Immigrant and Refugee Rights senior official Fred Tsao is leading the charge as his organization plots strategy to President-elect Donald Trump’s deportation plans.

Incoming border czar Tom Homan recently declared that Illinois will serve as “ground zero” for the planned expulsions of migrants in the country illegally. Speaking before a Chicago audience, Homan also reaffirmed the Trump administration’s plan to commence with the deportations soon after officially President-elect Donald Trump takes the office Jan. 20.

Tsao said they’re doing a lot of education for concerned communities.

“To try to make sure that people know what their rights are and are able to feel empowered to exercise those rights,” Tsao told The Center Square. “We're going to try to defend and protect as many people as we can and make sure that people are able to stand up for themselves. We're going we're do our part.”

With the deportations expected to disrupt households, businesses and communities alike, Tsao said ICIRR officials are also hard at work conducting “Know Your Rights" sessions for those who may be vulnerable. While Trump has pledged to prioritize targeting only those with criminal histories, some worry Illinois could be more harshly signaled out based on its sanctuary state status after Homan recently said such policies make it easier for dangerous criminals to find refuge.

Tsao said not much about Trump’s plan strikes him as being sensible.

“We have to ask why,” he said. “What's the point of all of this? We're talking about arresting people, many of whom most have been here in the country for many, many years. We're talking about breaking up families. We're talking about disrupting neighborhoods and we're talking about messing up businesses. I think we need to ask why are we even doing this?”

Tsao adds all the fiery rhetoric coming from the incoming administration has only served to needlessly put more people on edge.

“People are anxious; people are worried,” he said. “We've seen the election of a candidate who called for mass deportation. We have people like Homan making the statements that they're making. This work is picking up urgency and we're trying to meet the challenge.”

Tsao argues people sticking together will prove to be a critical factor in keeping as many of them protected as possible.

“It's making sure that people are in community, and that they know that other people have their backs,” he said. “Also, a large part of this is making sure that people know what their rights are. All of this work is just making sure that people have that reassurance that if something happens to them people have their back.”

The incoming Trump administration has put the focus on going after violent criminal non-citizen migrants. Trump recently told NBC that he’s interested in cutting a deal with Democrats to protect so-called “dreamers” brought to the U.S. at a young age.