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        Fears of ICE raids, mass deportations spread among LI immigrant community

        President Donald Trump detailed his immigration policies and signed executive orders related to them as he returned to the White House Monday.

        Jon Dowding

        Jan 21, 2025, 3:37 AM

        Updated 3 hr ago

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        Fears of ice raids and reports of mass deportations beginning as soon as Tuesday has immigrants and advocates on Long Island worried.
        President Donald Trump detailed his immigration policies and signed executive orders related to them as he returned to the White House Monday.
        "First, I will declare a national emergency at our southern border,” said President Trump. "All illegal entry will immediately be halted, and we will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens back to the places from which they came."
        One man, who asked to be referred to as Jack and not show his face, says he's living day-by-day in fear wondering when his current protected status could be revoked.
        "I feel unsafe everywhere I go and I have to carry all of my documents with me,” he said.
        Jack came to the U.S. over four years ago from Haiti for one reason.
        "Here is referred to as the country of dreams so I came here to the United States," said Jack.
        Jack earned his bachelor’s degree and works on the island. He’s currently under a Temporary Protected Status, or TPS.
        TPS status is granted by the Secretary of Homeland Security to those from countries where they cannot safely return to because of issues, like war or natural disasters.
        Hofstra University special professor of Immigration Law Patrick Young says the island is home to many immigrants with TPS status.
        "TPS on Long Island is very important,” he said. “We have one of the five largest TPS areas in the United States."
        Jack now fears his future in this country could be in jeopardy.
        "There's always that constant fear where you have to look over your shoulder,” he said. “When somebody invites you somewhere, you have to worry, 'Is ICE allowed to come?’"
        Young says even immigrants under protected groups, like Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) or TPS, could also be at risk.
        "A lot of immigrants should be very worried about,” he said. “They may think that they have status, but [Mr. Trump] may come and try to deprive them of status and then deport them."
        The Trump Administration also ended the use of a border app called "CBP One."
        The app had allowed migrants to legally enter the U.S. and schedule asylum hearings.
        All previously scheduled appointments and hearings through the app have since been canceled, leaving asylum seekers in limbo.