Donald Trump promised to expel American soil “millions” undocumented immigrants. For the moment, since its inauguration, the United States has stopped 538 illegal migrants and have expelled “hundreds“During a mass operation carried out a few days after the start of the Trump II presidency, the White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt announced.
Beyond these very symbolic first measures, will he be able to keep his promise? Foreigners in an irregular situation represent around 11 million people, 3.3% of the population in the United States. Getting rid of them will probably not be as easy as the American president imagines.
First of all because the support networks for people in an irregular situation are very effective. In Chicago, for example, dozens of organizations, churches, foundations exist. Example in the Mexican district. At Maison Erie, José Luis welcomes two young undocumented undocumented people who come to register during English: “How is it going? I can help you ? (he looks at the papers) Do you ask for asylum? Do you already have a lawyer?… Ok. Your name, your signature and the date please… “
There is a little paperwork, but you have to reassure. This information is confidential, specifies one of the forms.“This means that we do not share them with anyone, absolutely no one”, underlines José Luis. A little shy, Alejandro, 20, came to register during English. He does not think of the risk of arrest. He is especially looking forward to starting: “Me, I only arrived a year ago … I understand a few words but I can't really hold a conversation. “
“You know why it's important for you, to learn English? It is a powerful tool that gives you power, that helps you defend yourself, to say what you really want. Look at Trump, he said we are criminals and rapists.
At the national level, other more powerful organizations are responsible for contesting the Trump administration decisions. Several complaints have already been filed against the decrees signed on January 20: “Trump does not realize our strength, assures José Luis. He thinks that with his money and his rich friends, he dominates us, but he does not know: we say that we are 11 million, I think it's even more … and if we were taken into account, the America would be even greater! “
For the moment, irregular trees are also protected by “sanctuary cities” like Chicago who refuse to collaborate with federal immigration services.
These 11 million people also have a significant economic weight. In the United States, undocumented migrants represent around 18 % of agricultural workers, 13 % of building workers. They are also very present in restaurants. Encouraging them would cause shortages of labor. Especially since these workers pay taxes, they contribute to the social security system, often without benefiting themselves.
-They are also consumers. And if they leave, Oralia in the Mexican district, does not give dearly the survival of its hair salon: “A week before the start of Trump's mandate, the streets started to empty. For example, yesterday, I had two customers. The other days, there was no one. Yet we are there, we pay Taxes, electricity, gas … In the end, it is on us that it will fall. years. “
In fact, rather than expeling foreigners in an irregular situation, known as Oralia, it would be more logical to integrate them. Some studies suggest, moreover, that significant regularizations could increase GDP by $ 100 billion each year.
Expelling several million people, it would also pose logistical problems. Air transfers must be organized, build detention centers … Now, nothing is launched. André Vasquez chairs the Immigrant Rights and Refugees Commission at the town hall of Chicago. For him it's simple, the Trump administration does not have the means of its ambitions: “I don't think they have enough agents. When they started talking about Chicago, there were 100 to 200 … It's not much for an entire city. So they must first strengthen the workforce. “
“They will come up against the interests of all those who profit from immigrants …”
André Vasquezin franceinfo
And the manager to specify: “If hotels have less figure, if restaurants lose customers, if agriculture or industry are impacted, continues Andre Vasquez, This is a problem for a lot of people who are also voters. So it will encourage them to slow down. In fact, they will continue to do the same thing as under Biden except that they will talk more about it, to mobilize their electoral base. “
During his first mandate, Donald Trump had spoke a lot of immigration but he had expelled fewer people than his predecessor, Barak Obama.
