Immigration Attorneys Fear Stricter Border Policies Under Trump Could Target Vulnerable Migrant Children

With president-elect Donald Trump planning to implement stricter border measures, immigration attorneys are deeply concerned about how the former's policies will affect migrant children applying for asylum.

Austin-based immigration attorney Jennifer Walker Gates believes children, being extremely vulnerable and politically powerless, face heightened risks under the new administration.

She warned that tougher policies, combined with the Republican Party's control of both chambers of Congress, could weaken protections for both migrant and U.S. citizen children, USA Today reported.

As Trump prepares his cabinet and plans to implement his tough immigration policies, including mass deportations, immigrant advocates and attorneys fear that the new administration may target children disproportionately with actions such as resuming family separations at the border or breaking up mixed-status families living in U.S. cities.

Neha Desai, a senior director at the National Center for Youth Law and a children's rights attorney, said, "It is ... important to remember that family separation comes in many different forms. The administration's plan for mass deportation will result in an untold number of devastating family separations."

These potential measures could create massive challenges for children across the country.

During Trump's first term, over 5,500 families were reportedly separated at the border under the "zero tolerance" policy.

The policy had intended to discourage illegal crossings, but drew widespread criticism after media showed footage of young children crying for their parents in detention centers. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed lawsuits to end the practice, and Trump eventually stopped it.

Of these, around 4,000 families were now eligible to receive benefits from a settlement agreement.

A settlement from one of the lawsuits, Ms. L v. ICE, prevents the government from restarting family separations until at least 2031. As part of the settlement, the Trump administration must also allow separated parents to apply for asylum in the U.S. and work toward reuniting approximately 1,000 families, who remain separated.

ACLU attorney Lee Gelernt said, "We think the settlement is precise and iron-clad. We're going to be vigilant about making sure the settlement is complied with and will be back in court if there's any evidence that the letter and spirit of the settlement are not adhered to," USA Today reported.

Aside from this, Trump's victory sparked concerns among highly skilled workers about what his strict immigration plans could mean for them. Since Trump won the election, immigration attorneys have been receiving hundreds of questions from foreign-born workers, who want to understand how the new policies might affect their lives and jobs.