A pattern is emerging in the recent tactics of the current administration, using money as both a carrot and a stick to continue its anti-immigrant campaign. Reportedly, the Trump administration is offering immigrants $1,000 to “self-deport” through a government app, while CBS reports on a woman in South Florida facing a fine of nearly two million dollars for a 20-year-old deportation order.
Reuters recently reported on the repercussions of the Trump administration’s attempt to force states to cooperate with immigration enforcement in order to receive federal funding for essential programs such as transportation, counter-terrorism, and emergency preparedness. In response, a coalition of 20 Democratic states has filed two lawsuits to block this move.
This coincides with an expansion of immigration enforcement personnel, with reports indicating the administration seeks to bolster its numbers with members of the National Guard and FBI offices. The New York Times reported on a request from the Department of Homeland Security for the Pentagon to provide 20,000 National Guard troops to “assist in the removal of migrants” within the United States. According to the same outlet, Trump has ordered 20,000 more state and local officers to join deportation efforts. NBC reports that FBI field offices nationwide have been ordered to assign significantly more agents to immigration enforcement—a worrying shift in federal security priorities that may “divert resources away from counterterrorism, counterintelligence, and fraud investigations.”
The projected cost of this immigration crackdown is extraordinarily high. Reports indicate Trump is requesting a $175 billion budget for the Department of Homeland Security for the next fiscal year. In February, according to Reuters, the Senate budget chief said Trump’s border czar was “begging” for funds to fuel this crackdown.
For those affected by these measures, consulting with an immigration lawyer in Miami could make the difference between deportation and an effective legal defense of their rights.
Be very careful!
Beware of notaries, immigration consultants or anyone who is not qualified and prepared in these matters. Always seek the advice and services of an immigration attorney for your immigration processes and procedures.