Trump's 1st Day: Bay Area reacts to administration's immigration policy shift

Concerns about the new Trump administration's immigration policies, brought people to one San Jose Street corner on Monday to protest his policies.

"It's a complex issue," Miranda Collet, a San Jose resident said, "Related to housing, related to poverty, related to food security, related to climate change."

Hours after his inauguration, President Trump began signing executive orders.

There were some immediate changes.

Day 1 action

The U.S. Customs and Border patrol's CPB one app, posted a message saying all existing appointments for immigration asylum requests are no longer valid, and the White House website posted a list of priorities on immigration.

Among the items on his list, President Trump said he'll continue building a wall on the Mexican border, end asylum for people who illegally cross the border and instead enforce a "Remain in Mexico" policy, begin a deportation operation for undocumented immigrants with criminal records, and order the armed forces to assist with border security.

President Trump also says he will designate drug cartels as terrorist organizations, and seek the death penalty for any undocumented migrant who kills law enforcement officers or citizens. Most controversial, is that President Trump has also talked about ending birthright citizenship. That action is something which law experts say is not within presidential powers.

What they're saying:

"The Supreme Court said that the 14th Amendment means what it says, ‘All persons born in the United States or naturalized are US citizens.’ This 125 years later, trying to change that definition. It needs to go back to the courts, or it needs to go through the constitutional amendment process," said John Trasvina, a former ICE legal advisor and former USF Law School dean. "Congress should take the responsibility and be a co-equal partner.

California Senator Alex Padilla says he is reaching out to Republicans in Congress. He says mass deportations of the so-called Dreamers who were brought to the U.S. as children, farm-workers, and other law-abiding migrants, would hurt the country, not help.

"That's millions of workers that have kept our economy growing," California Senator Alex Padilla said. "The cost of food will go up. The cost of housing will go up. The cost of childcare will go up."

In San Jose, immigrant rights advocates at a rally Monday morning said they are prepared to help people who might be targeted.

"We can't have people who are afraid to go to school, or you can just go to your doctors. We do not, we never ask for your papers in our county. We are still here for you, and we will help you," Santa Clara County Board Supervisor Otto Lee said.

If you see ICE in your community

"Our work is grounded in a commitment to justice and dignity for everyone. Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County, along with partner organizations in the Rapid Response Network, Amigos de Guadalupe, Pangea Legal Services, Human Agenda, Latinos Unidos Por una Nueva America and the Community Agency for Resources, Advocacy, and Services in Gilroy will continue to support immigrant families by providing care, protection and assitance in times of need," Robert Yabes of Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County said.

"We urge members of the immigrant community to take action by calling the Rapid Response Network Hotline at (408) 290-1144 if they observe ICE activity in their area," Yabes said. 

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Trump executive action attempts to end birthright citizenship

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday hoping to end birthright citizenship, one of several executive actions signed in the hours after he was sworn into office. 


 

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