Republican officials in several states are offering proposals that could assist the incoming Trump administration with large-scale deportations, reports David A. Lieb of the Associated Press.
With Texas as an example, legislatures in states such as Missouri and Georgia are passing or considering bills that would give local law enforcement the power to arrest and detain unauthorized immigrants.
In Wisconsin, on the other hand, Gov. Tony Evers (D) is pushing back on mass deportation plans, reports Hope Karnopp of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "Everybody knows that, in Wisconsin, undocumented folks are a really important part of our economy, whether it's dairy, whether it's agriculture," said Evers.
Wisconsin isn’t alone: Nada Hassanein of Stateline adds to the good reporting on what states’ agriculture sectors stand to lose.
At the same time, some Democratic governors are expressing willingness to find immigration common ground where possible with the incoming administration — while also promising to push back when necessary, report Nick Corasaniti, Katie Glueck and Reid J. Epstein of The New York Times.
With many immigrant communities fearful, Marty Schladen of the Ohio Capital Journal offers suggestions for allyship. At the top of Jennie’s list: Contact your elected officials, "[e]specially if you own a business in that district, you’re a pastor in that district, you’re in law enforcement in that district. You’re going to get listened to." [Call if you can, and here's another way to get in touch.]
Welcome to Wednesday’s edition of The Forum Daily. I’m Dan Gordon, the Forum’s strategic communications VP. The great Forum Daily team also includes Jillian Clark, Soledad Gassó Parker, Clara Villatoro and Becka Wall. If you have a story to share from your own community, please send it to me at [email protected].
HIS BIRTHRIGHT — Columnist Laurie Roberts of the Arizona Republic wonders if U.S. Rep.-elect Abe Hamadeh (R) will support the president-elect on birthright citizenship — through which Hamadeh is a citizen. "Would anyone — besides Trump, that is — argue that Hamadeh isn’t rightly a U.S. citizen?" Roberts writes. "Or that he doesn’t have something to offer America?" Trump’s proposal, The Washington Post editorial board writes, "reveals a misunderstanding of the nation’s history — and what makes it great."
DREAMERS’ FUTURE — Despite President-elect Donald Trump’s promises to find a legislative solution for Dreamers, advocates remain skeptical, reports Hamed Aleaziz of The New York Times. "Actions speak louder than words, and Donald Trump’s track record in attacking DACA, fueling depraved disinformation and violence, and scapegoating immigrants extend back to his very first day in office," said Bruna Sollod, senior political director at United We Dream.
BORDER CZAR — The Trump administration’s selection of Tom Homan as "border czar" — which does not require Senate confirmation — underscores the incoming Trump administration’s prioritizing of immigration, reports Ximena Bustillo of NPR. Doris Meissner of the Migration Policy Institute says that although Homan has border security experience, "the actual implementation of policy is in the statutory authorities, and in the responsibility, of cabinet agencies." One tactic Homan has discussed: workplace raids. Morton, Mississippi, still has scars from raids on seven poultry plants in 2019, Sergio Martínez-Beltrán of NPR reports.
EXTENSION — The Department of Homeland Security released a rule yesterday that will automatically extend work authorization documents for immigrants whose documents expire while they have a renewal application pending, reports Andrew Kreighbaum of Bloomberg Law. "With this final rule, DHS has ensured that ... immigrants will not fall out of the workforce because of work permit processing backlogs," said Conchita Cruz, co-executive director of the Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project.
