Washington, D.C. – As Trump prepares to take office– pledging to unleash a violent mass deportation campaign– over 80 ally organizations from across the country sent a letter to their state and local electeds demanding they reject Trump’s anti-immigrant attacks and serve as the first line of defense by immediately shoring up protections for immigrants locally.
In their letter, the coalition of organizations representing a multiracial, multigenerational cohort of allies across the country, made clear the high stakes of this moment to result in millions of American families torn apart and communities terrorized by anti-immigrant enforcement actions across the country. Together, they outlined a list of policy recommendations state and local officials have at their disposal to tangibly and swiftly expand protections for immigrant communities right away, including prohibiting local collaboration with ICE and ensuring access to universal legal representation.
Bruna Sollod, Senior Political Director of United We Dream, said:
“Allies across the country are ready to act with the courage this moment demands and alongside directly-impacted communities who are raising the pressure on our elected officials at all levels to block Trump’s plans to target immigrants with impunity. We know mass deportations impact us all and would hurt the very people who we know, spend time with, care about and love. From the students in our classrooms to our neighbors next door, Trump and his administration has made clear that anyone and everyone is on the table for his deportation machine.
Currently, state and local elected leaders have the utmost responsibility and immediate ability to protect their constituents unapologetically by rejecting all efforts to terrorize and rip apart families. As Trump readies his onslaught of attacks against working-class communities across the country, immigrant youth and allies are building the power to protect our communities from the violence and greed of Trump and his billionaire cronies.”
Analilia Mejía, Co-Executive Director of Popular Democracy, said:
“Deportations rip apart the fabric of whole communities, and mass deportations would be nothing less than assaults on our safety, our freedoms, and our democracy as Americans. Local and state officials have both the power and the duty to defend their communities and push back on Trump’s authoritarian plans.
While Trump and his CEO buddies scheme on how to divide and take advantage of everyday people, we are joining together across our differences and strengthening our alliances to chart a better future where every human being, regardless where we’re from or what we look like, has the freedom to thrive — no exceptions.”
Jamie Beran, CEO of Bend the Arc: Jewish Action, said:
“Bend the Arc’s multiracial, multiethnic, intergenerational movement of Jews across the country are rising to build an American future free from white supremacy, xenophobia, antisemitism, and racism. In our vision for America, immigrants are valued not scapegoated, and seen as vital parts of our communities, not detained and deported. And we know that working for immigrant safety is part of ensuring Jewish safety. State and local elected officials can make that vision a reality by serving as a firewall between the communities they serve and a federal government that is targeting them.
As Jews, we know what it is to live in fear and our history as a people is one of migration — forced, voluntary, and necessary. This experience and our values call us to fight for immigrant safety, and to call on all elected officials to use every power of their office to protect immigrants in their states and localities.”
Jenn Stowe, Executive Director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, said:
“No one should live or work in fear. Domestic workers—nannies, house cleaners, and home care workers—have long been the quiet force holding families and communities together, yet they remain among the most unprotected workers in this country. The looming threat of mass deportations would not only tear families apart but also push countless workers further into the shadows, making them more vulnerable to exploitation, wage theft, and abuse.
We refuse to let that happen. The care movement—led by domestic workers, Black women, women of color, and immigrant women—has mobilized for generations to demand dignity, rights, and protections. At this moment, we call on state and local leaders to act with urgency and courage to ensure domestic workers, care workers, and their families can live and work in safety, free from fear and retaliation.”