U.S. immigration officials are beginning to lower their expectations of Donald Trump’s campaign promise to deport all illegal immigrants to the United States.
For Kenneth Genalo, director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in New York, it is virtually impossible for the future president to implement his campaign promise to deport more than 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States. The future 47ᵉ president of the United States may not even be able to deport immigrants in trouble with the American justice system.
In an interview with the New York Post, the regional immigration director said, “It would take a lifetime to rid the city of the criminals we have,” given current circumstances. His frustrations center on sanctuary city laws, which limit collaboration between local law enforcement and federal immigration agencies, lamented Kenneth Genalo.
These laws, established during Bill de Blasio’s tenure as mayor, were designed to protect immigrant communities from unjust deportations. However, Mr. Genalo argues that they unwittingly protect dangerous individuals: “The majority of these crimes are committed against the most vulnerable people in the community, particularly immigrant women and children,” he said.
Mr. Genalo’s concerns reflect a broader problem with law enforcement. With an estimated 7.8 million illegal immigrants in the U.S., more than 662,000 of them have criminal records.
While ICE should focus on the “worst of the worst”, it won’t have the resources to effectively tackle the problem, the regional immigration official acknowledged.
Mass deportation: an unattainable reality
Kenneth Genalo is not alone in his skepticism about the feasibility of Donald Trump’s mass deportation policy.
The former Secretary of Homeland Security under the Obama administration, Jeh Johnson, offered some insight into the challenges posed by the mass deportations of America’s far-right president-to-be. In an appearance on Meet the Press, Johnson illustrated the enormity of the task: deporting every undocumented immigrant would be tantamount to eliminating a population the size of “two New York cities”. This is completely impossible, the former Secretary of Homeland Security warned.
He emphasized the logistical and ethical complexities of such an approach, and argued for prioritization: “Start with the criminals, start with the threats to national security, the people who have recently crossed the border, ” he advised, stressing that law enforcement should focus on immediate dangers rather than long-standing law-abiding immigrants.
Opponents of mass deportations point to the damaging effects on families and communities. Many immigrants from Haiti and other countries have lived in the U.S. for years, contributing to society while raising children who are U.S. citizens. Targeting these individuals risks fracturing families and intensifying the difficulties faced by an already vulnerable group, Johnson warned.
Haitian immigrants face uncertainty
The Haitian community in the United States illustrates both the resilience and the challenges of immigrant life. Many have fled political unrest, natural disasters and economic problems in search of safety and opportunity.
New York City is a focal point for Haitian immigrants, with over 200,000 residing in the Big Apple, considered one of the sanctuary cities where immigrants enjoy a kind of protection from local authorities. But this protection could be short-lived. The mayor of New York has already expressed his willingness to work with the next American president.
Finding a balanced approach
Both Genalo and Johnson advocate a balanced approach to immigration enforcement, albeit from different angles.
For Genalo, the focus should be on resource allocation, while Johnson advocates prioritizing enforcement efforts, starting with those with criminal records. However, Johnson also stresses the importance of compassion, and advocates policies that recognize the humanity of immigrants who have established their lives in the U.S. and contributed enormously to the American economy.
Collaboration between local and federal authorities is essential to meet these challenges. New York City Mayor Eric Adams, previously a supporter of immigrants, has recently changed his tune since Donald Trump’s re-election. He recently made it known that the city’s resources were being strained by the high number of immigrants in his city. He suggested reviewing policies regarding asylum cases. “The mayor understands the need to cooperate,” noted Mr. Genalo, a staunch supporter of Donald Trump.
For Haitian immigrants, the stakes are deeply personal. Many have escaped unimaginable hardship and arrived in the U.S. longing for stability and security. Yet the current climate often leaves them in a state of uncertainty: vulnerable to exploitation, fearing deportation to Haiti, a country beset by difficulties of all kinds.
The experiences of Haitian immigrants in the United States reflect the wider debate on immigration. Striking a balance between law enforcement and empathy requires nuanced policies that address security concerns without undermining the humanity of those seeking a better life in the land of Donald Trump, whose own wife is an immigrant who obtained US citizenship not long ago.