The headlines in several European newspapers on Tuesday screamed out, “God Help Us.” On Jan 20th, Donald Trump began his first day with a stack of draconian Executive Orders, including ending U.S. participation in the Paris Climate Accords, opening drilling in the Arctic, and pardoning 1,500 convicted Jan 6th rioters, many of whom are violent offenders.

Yet, the most direct attacks on the working class will certainly be on our neighbors in our immigrant communities. Once seen as a haven for people from other countries, this idea has been turned upside down. Trump has spewed right-wing jingoistic propaganda, turning much of the nation toward an agenda aimed at the deportation of some 12 million people.

This is a real nightmare for the vast majority of millions who are here legally under temporary resident status, Dreamers under DACA, and individuals under temporary parole status – those refugees, seeking asylum with legal court dates. Most have fled political persecution or humanitarian disasters in their home countries, seeking safety and a better life.

Just think of the fear facing mixed-status families with 10s of thousands of U.S. citizen children and spouses. Trump even signed an order against “birthright citizenship” in clear violation of the 14th Amendment of the Constitution. Oh yes, “God help us.” We have not forgotten, some seven years ago – Children in Cages, ripped out of their parents’ arms.

One first step in Trump’s fascist mass deportation scheme is H.R.29 / S.B.5, the Laken Riley Act, now going to Trump’s desk. To our deep disappointment, 12 prominent leaders of our party, Democratic Senators including the “liberal” Ruben Gallego from Arizona voted with Trump Republicans. So did 46 House Democrats.

We mourn Laken Riley’s murder, and we are relieved that her killer has been arrested, tried, and sentenced. This bill, however, exploits one person’s horrific crime to put millions of our families, friends, neighbors, and co-workers at risk of unjust mandatory detention and deportation, without due process.

When Trump signs this bill, adults, children, and families will all be at risk. For example, imagine a father and his 7-year-old daughter going to a gas station to fill up their car. As her father is paying for gas, the 7-year-old takes candy from the front register and puts it in her mouth. Under the text of this bill, that child and her undocumented father would be subject to mandatory detention in an ICE facility. We must respond to the legitimate concerns of many related to immigration, transform the management of our southern border, and reform our outdated immigration system. But we can’t do that by betraying the rule of law and human rights.

We stand against any form of Trump’s high-profile mass deportation raids, ICE detention camps, family separation, and U.S. troops at the border. We oppose his anti-immigrant executive orders, that will cause harm and fear to our neighbors. As we take on all aspects of the Trump agenda over the next four years we stand as allies with our neighbors and friends and march side-by-side with community organizations, and local and state officials fighting on the front lines for justice.

Any reform must include a path to citizenship for the millions of immigrants who are woven into the fabric of our families, neighborhoods, places of worship, and workplaces, all of whom are now targeted by Trump’s pledge to mobilize his forcible detention and deportation agenda.

Let us commit to wholehearted solidarity today and every day. Consider signing on to this national Mass Deportation Pledge of Resistance mentioned at our Progressive Town Hall by guest and immigrant rights leader Erika Andiola.

This One pager is a “Know Your Rights” flyer in the event someone is stopped by an immigration official.

The American Federation of Teachers is also encouraging immigrant families to have a plan of action in the event there is a raid or detention, This one pager is in English and Spanish 

To our immigrant brothers and sisters we say,”We are your allies. We are with you.”

Volunteer here.

In solidarity,

Dan O’Neal for the PDA National Team