Like Pennsylvania Immigration Coalition, we answered many questions about the Trump administration’s plans for mass raids and deportations. Many people are looking for answers on how to stay safe, prepare, and support the immigrant community. Just as often, we are asked what can be done to fight back. And we will fight back.

Because here in Pennsylvania, the immigrant rights movement has a plan. For the 60 organizations In our coalition working in 27 counties across the state, we always knew we would have a fight ahead of us.

Since election night, the Trump administration has confirmed its intention to implement the authoritarian immigration goals outlined in the law. Project 2025which include denaturalizing immigrant citizens, ending birthright, expanding immigrant detention, and delegating local law enforcement and the military to carry out raids and mass deportations. If they succeed, the people of our communities will be rounded up like animals and shipped away. families torn apart again.

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These projects have a high cost, estimated at $88 billion per year. THE American Immigration Council breaks down the costs: “For the same costs as continuing a strategy of mass deportations of a million people per year, sustained over 10 years until 13.3 million people are either deported or Left to its own devices, the United States could build on 40,450 new elementary schools in communities across the country.

Additionally, the council says we could build more than 2.9 million new housing units, fund the Head Start program for nearly 79 years, pay full tuition and expenses of more than $4.3 million. people to attend a private four-year college (or more than 8.9 million people to attend a private college). attend a public four-year university in the state) or buy a new car for more than 20.4 million people.

Mass deportations are not only a waste of money; THE economic consequences The loss of so many people, people vital to various sectors of our communities, will impact everyone.

So what can we do? A lot, because when our communities come together, we are powerful. Here are the top three actions I’m calling on all state residents to join us in demanding.

1. The Biden administration must dismantle the deportation machine

As a nation, we have already witnessed the atrocities committed by the first Trump administration when it inherited the deportation machine from the Obama administration. It is imperative that the Biden administration dismantle the deportation machine before Trump returns to office. We know the Trump administration will rebuild the deportation machine – but rebuilding takes time, and it’s time we need to keep people safe.

There are 20 concrete actions President Joe Biden can take; I will highlight three.

The White House can terminate ICE contracts that keep immigration detention centers open. Those released will still need to pursue their immigration cases, but they will be able to do so with the support of their communities and loved ones.

From Immigration and Customs Enforcement failed to follow federal enforcement priorities set by the Biden Administration, and as many individuals are currently subject to deportation proceedings due to failure to meet these enforcement priorities, the Biden Administration may request the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to use prosecutorial discretion to overturn pending eviction cases.

In addition, the Biden administration can lift the June presidential executive order on border closures that allowed the prosecution of people who, seeking asylum, enter without an appointment. This asylum violation is a Trump-era policy — and lifting it now would allow those eligible for asylum to obtain it.

2. Local governments should end collaboration with ICE and adopt shelter-in-place policies

Given the Trump administration’s plan to devolve local law enforcement up to 287(g) and using the military for raids and mass deportations, it is essential that our local elected leaders refuse cooperation. This means adopting or protecting policies prohibiting local law enforcement, jails, probation departments, and courts from sharing data, communicating, and collaborating with ICE agents.

This further means adopting welcoming policies at the municipal and departmental levels, such as ensuring language access protocols and welcoming policies in schools. Effective implementation is where the rubber meets the road: when such policies are adopted, staff must be properly trained and supported, and if the policies are violated, action must be taken with staff to ensure that this does not happen. reproduces more. In Philadelphia, we have a welcoming school policy, but training for district employees has been minimal. Last year, a the manager threatened to call ICE on a student.

It also means adopting welcoming policies at the state level, not only at the legislative level – eight bills have already been introduced in the legislature – but also at the administration level. Governor. Josh Shapiro stood up to Trump as attorney general, and now we’re going to need him to do it again as governor. He can start by echoing the demand that the White House dismantle as much of the expulsion machine as possible before Inauguration Day. Shapiro can also ensure that state prisons and probation stop data sharing, communication and collaboration with ICE, and he can strengthen ICE’s current policy with state police.

3. Get involved with your local immigrant rights organizations

If you live in Pennsylvania, you can see which members of the Pennsylvania Immigration Coalition are working near you. by county. These organizations have been doing this work for years, and many of their leaders are immigrants themselves. Getting involved is different for everyone, so whether you volunteer, become part of an organization, take action, donate or fundraise, find out how you can best support those near you.

Like so many others in the immigrant community and the broader immigrant rights movement, we go through a range of emotions. But I assure you that we will organize, educate and mobilize. We will address urgent needs alongside the long-term organizing needed for structural change. We will provide care as well as political education, services alongside leadership development, and will do this work at the local and national levels because there is no other choice.

Join us.

Jasmine Rivera is the executive director of Pennsylvania Immigration Coalition.