Migrants in New York City are facing rising fear as former President Donald Trump ramps up his campaign promises of a sweeping deportation push if he wins the 2024 election. His rhetoric about a so-called “migrant invasion” and pledges of “the largest deportation effort in American history” have sent waves of anxiety through migrant communities. At one of the largest migrant shelters in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, residents share their deep concerns about what the future may hold.
In recent days, large WhatsApp groups among recent arrivals have been filled with speculation about life under another Trump presidency. Shelter residents spoken to outside the Hall Street shelter conveyed a mix of worry and uncertainty. Ali, a 30-year-old migrant from Senegal, expressed in French, “We know he could be a danger for migrants, for those of us who just got here. We’re scared, we’re anxious.”
Merce Camacho, a 40-year-old from Ecuador who fled after facing violence because of her identity, echoed this apprehension. Speaking in Spanish, she shared, “We live in a state of uncertainty about what’s going to happen in this country.” Camacho, who was targeted with violence for being a lesbian, had hoped for safety in the U.S. but now fears what a new administration might mean for her.
Many residents mentioned hearing Trump’s repeated threats and his harsh comments about migrants crossing the southern border. “He claims we all come from prisons and asylums, that we are the worst kind,” said Miguel Banes, a 23-year-old Venezuelan. Banes, who has been supporting his younger siblings since his mother’s death, said he only wants to work to provide for his family. “We just want to work,” he stated, noting how he picks up day jobs as he waits for his work permit.
Over the weekend, Trump supporters filled Madison Square Garden, where speakers criticized migrants openly. Trump’s advisor, Stephen Miller, declared, “America is for America and Americans only,” a phrase that has historically carried dark connotations. Trump, taking the stage, reinforced this stance, emphasizing, “The migrant invasion ends on the day I take the oath.”
With over 220,000 people having passed through the city’s shelter system since the border surge of 2022, around 60,000 remain in temporary facilities. Some residents pointed out the contradiction of calls for mass deportation when migrants form the backbone of essential industries. Henry Rodriguez, a 32-year-old working as a mover while awaiting his work authorization, said, “How does America move? Latinos keep America moving.” In New York City, 63% of construction workers are immigrants, with 41% undocumented.
Camacho, who once worked in construction, shared a personal ordeal: she lost her job after being injured on-site when her employer refused to call for help due to her lack of papers. Despite this, she sees the role immigrants play clearly. “Who works hard? Who does the dirty jobs? Immigrants do,” she said. “We keep this country running.”