How cities across the US are preparing for Trump’s immigration crackdown

State and local leaders across the country are bracing for a tidal wave of aggressive immigration policies and possible mass deportations that President Donald Trump has vowed to enact in the hours and days following his inauguration Monday.

State and local leaders across the country are bracing for a tidal wave of aggressive immigration policies and possible mass deportations that President Donald Trump has vowed to enact in the hours and days following his inauguration Monday. Trump pledged to issue “close to 100” executive orders on Day 1 of his presidency, at least 10 of which will be related to a keystone of his campaign: immigration, an incoming White House official told CNN over the weekend. Within hours of taking office, Trump signed a slate of immigration executive actions that will prompt an immigration crackdown. They include an executive action to try to end birthright citizenship, a constitutional issue that would need to be addressed via constitutional amendment or the courts. He also signed an order declaring a national emergency at the US southern border that would trigger deployment of additional Pentagon resources and the deployment of armed forces to finish the border wall. During his inaugural speech on Monday, Trump reiterated his pledge to carry out mass deportations once in office. “We will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens back to the places from which they came,” Trump said. The immigration actions – which are almost certain to be challenged in court – could create fear and confusion in cities with robust immigrant populations as everyone from school bus drivers to restaurant managers and church pastors will be left to wonder what to do if Immigration and Customs Enforcement comes knocking.