Updated Dec. 11.

[En Español.]

Immigrant communities across the country are facing the terrifying threat from the incoming
Trump administration of mass deportations and family separation. As immigrant families and
organizations come together to strategize, solidarity from the entire community is key. Here are
some ideas for an action plan, working with immigrant rights groups, that can be adjusted to the
situation and needs in your state or city:

1. Collaborate with national organizations to boost local organizing. Reach out to small
   businesses, labor unions, and faith communities locally to educate and join forces.
2. Work in coalition with immigrant-led groups to form Neighborhood Defense Committees.
3. Include actions such as Rapid Response Networks with community allies responding to raids, stops, and other attempts to detain undocumented neighbors.
4. Develop committees to provide legal assistance, Know Your Rights trainings, funds to bond out of immigration detention, accompaniment to court.
5. Organize groups of lawyers to bring lawsuits against the unconstitutionality of the actions and defend birthright citizenship, enshrined in the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
6. Create sanctuary state legislation and strategize ways to evade Trump’s deportation orders and prohibit 287(g) agreements at the local and state level, which allow local and state police to cooperate with ICE.
7. Pass sanctuary ordinances at the municipal level. (Los Angeles is an example.)
8. Confirm state, county, and local authorities’ promises to not cooperate with enforcement of immigration laws, and to decline federal funding such as those coming from Operation Stonegarden. Hold meetings with local and state law enforcement entities to get confirmation and buy in — in writing, if possible.
9. Educate the general public on who the immigrants in the U.S. are and what they contribute to the economy.
10. Tell the immigrants that you know, undocumented and documented, that they are not alone.

Image: People in NY march to defend immigrant communities by Make the Road NY (Twitter/X)

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