Undocumented migrants in the US prepare for worst-case scenario

Immigrants in the US have been preparing for mass deportations since Donald Trump won the presidential election in November, but reports that his initial focus would be in the Chicago area have brought a new sense of urgency and fear to the city and its surrounding areas.

Some immigrants in the country without legal status have been designating power of attorney to trusted friends, making plans for childcare in case of separations and installing security cameras on their doors in case immigration agents come.

Others have left voluntarily, as Trump aides have encouraged them to do.

Plans for deportations aren't yet official, but an official speaking on anonymity has said that officers will start by targeting more than 300 people with histories of egregious, violent crimes after Trump takes office Monday.

The official said the operation will be concentrated in the Chicago area and continue all week, subject to potential weather delays.

Temperatures in Chicago dipped to almost -15 degrees Celsius, with cold temperatures forecast throughout the week.

US Immigration and Customs and Enforcement arrests a fraction of its targets in such operations, though Trump is expected to cast a wider net than President Joe Biden, whose focus on picking up people away from the border was largely limited to those with serious criminal histories and national security threats.

Biden's administration also ended the practice of mass worksite arrests, which were common under Trump, including a 2019 operation targeting Mississippi chicken plants.

Trump aides have said they will arrest others, such as spouses or roommates, who are not targets but happen to be in the country illegally. The soon-to-be president told NBC News on Saturday that mass deportations remain a top priority. He didn’t give an exact date or city where they’ll start, but he said they would begin soon.

Sanctuary cities, which limit how local police can cooperate with federal immigration agents, have been one of Trump's favourite targets — especially Chicago. Chicago became a so-called sanctuary city in the 1980s and has beefed up its policies multiple times since, including after Trump first took office in 2017.

Last week, the City Council heartily rejected a longshot plan calling for exceptions allowing local police to work with ICE agents on deportation cases for people accused or convicted of crimes.

Immigrants are told to exercise their rights

Immigrant rights advocates, including Democratic US Representatives Jesus Garcia and Delia Ramirez, urged immigrants in Chicago to remain calm and exercise their rights, particularly to stay silent and refuse to allow officers into their homes without warrants.

Some advocacy groups have planned legal workshops anticipating mass arrests next week.

Carlos, an immigrant from Mexico, has lived in the US for decades. The 56-year-old doesn’t have legal status to stay in the country but has work authorisation in construction and welding.

He declined to give his last name and discuss details of his immigration status for fear of being targeted for deportation.

He has three children with legal status to stay in the country through the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, which could also be scrapped under Trump’s agenda.

Carlos said the family’s contingency planning for deportation includes finding someone to manage their bank accounts, home and car. They’ve also installed a camera on their suburban Chicago home and will screen all visitors, especially ICE agents.

Elena Barrera, a food cart vendor during summer and a cleaner in the winter, immigrated from Mexico in the late 1990s by crossing the border.

The 48-year-old single mom does not have legal status to stay in the country but has three children who are US citizens.

Her biggest fear is being separated from her children.

She said the family has been making contingency plans in case of deportation, including her older children taking care of the youngest until they can be reunited.

They have discussed living in Mexico, which would require one of her children to leave her studies at a prestigious Chicago-area university.

When the topic comes up, her youngest child, who is 9, cries, she said.

“He tells me he is afraid his mom won’t come home one day. He cries. Nothing has happened yet, but he is already anxious.”