From the Quakers: Ways to support immigrants

Yesterday, the American Friends Service Committee published "6 ways to support immigrants right now" by Amy Gottlieb. Here, I've quoted just the beginning of each suggestion.

1. "Promote messages and policies emphasizing that immigrants make our communities stronger."
2. "Urge your members of Congress to keep families and communities together."
3. "Join our webinar 'Third Tuesdays: Protect, Resist, and Build with AFSC.'"
4. "Take part in protests, rallies, vigils, or actions in your community."
5. "Accompany immigrants in your community...as they go through court processes, check-ins with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or to other appointments."
6. "Make a gift. Donate to our Refugee Response Fund..."

Why it matters right now

Here are several big news headlines from the past few days. The anti-immigrant assault is moving very fast.

The White House webpage is no longer available in Spanish

Within hours of Trump's inauguration, the Spanish version of the White House webpage went offline. No surprise: Trump removed it in 2017, and though his administration said they'd reinstate it, they never did. Biden brought it back in 2021. Now, in 2025, Trump has removed it again, with his administration again claiming they'll reinstate it (they won't). whitehouse.gov/es/ is giving an “Error 404”. It had a “Go Home” button that, after someone complained, was relabeled: “Go To Home Page”.

Trump's executive order ends the only legal route to seek asylum

CNN reports that "the border app known as CBP One to schedule an appointment at a legal port of entry...was shut down minutes after Trump was sworn in, leaving thousands of migrants in limbo and resulting in a border that is largely sealed off to asylum seekers." Over the last two years, nearly a million people had used the app to schedule appointments. Trump got rid of it by executive order.

Trump's executive order tries to end birthright citizenship

Trump signed another executive order saying that, when a baby is born, it's automatically a U.S. citizen only if at least one birthparent is a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident. This new restriction isn't supposed to apply retroactively; it's supposed to apply going forward to children born after February 19 of this year. Regardless, Trump's order is contrary to established interpretation of the 14th Amendment of the Constitution, which gives citizenship to "all" babies born in the US and under U.S. jurisdiction. Trump's pick for attorney general, Pam Bondi, didn't answer when she was asked during her recent confirmation hearing whether she would support the longstanding application of birthright citizenship.

The Department of Homeland Security will raid anywhere — even schools, churches, and daycare centers

"The Department of Homeland Security is giving the go-ahead for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to make arrests in some previously protected places" including "schools, churches and daycare centers," says NBC10 Philadelphia.

The Justice Department will investigate any local government resistance

"The Justice Department is directing its federal prosecutors to investigate any state or local officials who stand in the way of beefed-up enforcement of immigration laws under the Trump administration, according to a memo to the entire workforce..."
— Alanna Durkin Richer and Eric Tucker, "DOJ Directs Prosecutors To Probe Local Efforts To Obstruct Immigration Enforcement," HuffPost

The military will move forces to the border

Trump proclaimed a national emergency at the southern border. As a result: "the Pentagon will deploy as many as 1,500 active duty troops to the U.S.-Mexico border."