Concerns Rise Among New York City’s Undocumented Immigrants Following Trump’s Election

In the wake of President-elect Donald J. Trump’s recent victory, a wave of fear and uncertainty has swept over New York City’s more than 400,000 undocumented immigrants. Many are now grappling with the implications of one of his key campaign pledges: the implementation of a mass deportation program.

City officials are urgently trying to comprehend how a nationwide immigration crackdown might impact the city’s ongoing influx of asylum-seekers, particularly those residing in city shelters. The situation has led to a significant uptick in frantic calls to immigration lawyers, who are inundated with inquiries from worried clients. Activist groups have mobilized quickly, organizing rallies to raise awareness about the potential consequences of mass deportations, which could tear families apart and undermine the very fabric of the city’s economy.

“There are many individuals who feel anxious; many still lack proper documentation,” said Edwin Tito, a 40-year-old migrant from Ecuador who settled in New York two years ago. “I’m undocumented myself, and there’s a pervasive fear that authorities will come and detain numerous people at their workplaces, leading to deportations.”

Tito shared his thoughts during a brief respite from his job at a construction site in Midtown. “Many in our community are already recalling the traumatic experiences from his previous term in office,” he added, expressing the collective anxiety felt by so many.

Trump’s commitment to enhancing security along the U.S.-Mexico border could potentially decrease the number of migrants arriving in New York—a city that has seen over 200,000 newcomers since 2022. For Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat, this reduction might come as a relief, as he has consistently criticized the strain that this influx has placed on the city’s resources.