SACRAMENTO, Calif. — In the wake of the presidential election there’s an overwhelming concern about what’s next regarding immigration policy and the impact on migrant families.
President-Elect Donald Trump has previously spoken about mass deportations being an immediate priority.
The Biden administration said this week they are preparing for a mass influx at the border before inauguration.
Governor Gavin Newsom held a special session to discuss the future of fighting the administration. But for the everyday person the message is simple, attorneys don’t know what’s coming but they need people to start the process now.
For Sacramento immigration attorney Julian Sanchez, he said based on Trump’s past term they are anticipating the end of Temporary Protected Status (TPS), end of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and issues for those with a criminal history.
“Speak with an attorney to see if there is anything else they are eligible for if they have any criminal offenses any criminal history in the past consult with an attorney see if that’s something they should try to address maybe vacate it,” said Sanchez.
Sanchez has seen an increase in calls from concerned clients.
Equal Justice Law Group said calls about immigration have doubled this week.
Galina Dorris works in the immigration department for the Law Group and said people are panicking.
For the past two months they’ve seen changes in courts.
The Department of Homeland Security appealed judges decisions to grant asylum so the person’s status is not complete until the appeal is done. Dorris said she went from appearing twice per case to now multiple times.
“We are seeing delays in biometrics which tells us Department of Homeland Security is taking a closer look at the biometrics of asylum seekers, there is just a higher standard of evidence and preponderance of evidence that one must provide for asylum cases,” said Dorris.
The legal expert’s advice is to consult with an attorney now so the application process can be well underway before the inauguration. It's advise to always carry a copy of your claim with your unique confirmation number with you so if you do get stopped you have proof you are working on your status.
ABC10 spoke with the Mexican Consulate and said they have no comment at this time.
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