Growing concerns for deportation, following election

The possibility of being deported has been on the minds of many immigrants, specifically, undocumented immigrants. This is due to President-elect Donald Trump’s vow to deport them.

We do not know what will happen in the next few years and even if Donald Trump will follow through on his own words.

But we spoke to a local attorney who explained who may be in danger and how some immigrants can protect themselves from being deported.

We have heard it for the last few months: Donald Trump wants to deport illegal immigrants when he takes office.

There has been an increase in people visiting immigration offices with fears of deportation.

Idaho Falls attorney, Tim Jones, who mainly works in immigration law, said people under the Dream Act, should definitely be worried. Jones encourages them to get their green cards or renew their work permit right now.

“Many of these people are eligible for work permits. They are eligible for some protection from being deported. However, with the results of this last election, there is some danger that their work permits could be withdrawn or at the very least, not be renewed,” Jones said.

Right now, it is very difficult to determine what will happen, said Jones.

“The best thing to do right now is to continue staying out of trouble, not getting arrested for DUIs, even traffic tickets. If an immigrant is eligible for an immigration status — for example, if they are eligible for a green card, or to get citizenship — it would be good if they could get that as soon as possible,” he said.

According to the American Immigration Council, about 4.6 percent of the workers in Idaho are undocumented. This is 35,000 people, which is about 9,000 more than the population of Rexburg.

If President-elect Donald Trump plans to deport undocumented immigrants, the state would lose about $400 million in economic activity, according to the council. Idaho would also lose about $2.6 million in state and local taxes.

It is important for those who may be at risk to be informed, said Jones.

“Pay attention to the news. Pay attention to what’s happening so that they can be aware of any changes in the law, so that they can be better prepared for what happens next,” Jones said.

Another way people can try to avoid deportation is by applying for asylum. This is only for people who belong to a group that has been targeted in its own homeland. If you are a victim of a crime — specifically physical or mental abuse, you can apply for a U visa.