Illegal immigrants vow to defy Trump, call on Obama to halt deportations
Illegal immigrants vow to defy Trump, call on Obama to halt deportations
Demand localities become sanctuaries
By Stephen Dinan - The Washington Times - Wednesday, November 9, 2016
Advocates for illegal immigrants sounded the alarm Wednesday morning as Donald Trump was poised to claim the White House, vowing to resist an expected crackdown and calling on localities to declare themselves sanctuary cities, resisting the federal government.
They also demanded President Obama halt all deportations for the rest of his tenure.
“Immigrants are declaring a state of urgency and resilience. Over the coming weeks, our families and community members will need to tap into the incredible strength that brought us to this country and which we use to survive,” said Cristina Jimenez, co-founder of United We Dream, an advocacy group.
She also called Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents “racist.”
“All people with love in our hearts are angered and disappointed tonight and pledge to resist mass deportation,” she said. “ICE and CBP have proven themselves to be agents of racism and agents of hate.”
Mr. Trump has promised to triple the number of deportation officers and to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border to try to get a handle on illegal immigration. And he’s said he will deport more people from within the U.S. — sparking fear in illegal immigrants who had hoped instead for a path to citizenship.
Hispanic-rights groups had predicted a massive turnout in the election to oppose Mr. Trump, and in the run-up to Tuesday’s vote, when polling showed Mr. Trump losing, they prepared to take credit for denying him the White House.
Instead, white voters turned out in large numbers, putting Mr. Trump on the cusp of victory Wednesday morning. He needed only a single further win across a handful of states to cement things.A win would give Mr. Trump a chance to undo Mr. Obama’s executive actions on immigration, including his 2012 deportation amnesty for so-called Dreamers, the young adult illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. as children and grew up here.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/...l-obama-halt-/