Trump's war at home

The Trump administration is pursuing a rigorous campaign to remove individuals it considers 'undesirable,' impacting over a million people with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) from more than a dozen countries. This includes deporting individuals to active war zones in Sudan and Somalia, a military dictatorship in Myanmar, and Venezuela, which is still recovering from an earthquake.

Many TPS holders have resided in the U.S. for extended periods. For instance, nearly 90 percent of Salvadorans with TPS, granted 25 years ago, are employed and contribute over $5 billion annually to the U.S. economy. The administration's efforts to deport people are extensive, reportedly even sharing information about Iranian asylum-seekers, including sensitive details like sexual orientation and religious beliefs, with the Iranian government, increasing their risk of persecution upon return.

Dozens of Russians without TPS have been deported, with some immediately facing draft notices upon arrival. The administration has also attempted to overturn 'birthright citizenship,' a move currently blocked by the Supreme Court but still being pushed in Congress. A particularly alarming plan, revealed by a whistleblower, aimed to add 2.7 million living individuals to the 'Death Master File' to create difficulties that would encourage self-deportation or lead to detention for those attempting to dispute their 'death' status.

The most visible target is the estimated 14 million undocumented immigrants who, as of 2023, constituted over 4 percent of the U.S. population. These individuals perform essential labor in sectors like agriculture, meatpacking, construction, and elder care. Critics argue that the administration's mass deportation plans could severely damage the U.S. economy, as native-born Americans generally do not seek the jobs filled by immigrants.