The Washington Post has obtained an internal Department of Homeland Security assessment that shows Trump and his administration has outlined plans to quickly begin mass deportation. The report, titled 90-day Progress Report to the President on Executive Order 13767: Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Improvements, dated April 25, is outlining plans to secure the southern border of the United States. The report states: The Department of Homeland Security is taking all appropriate action to immediately plan, design, and construct a physical wall or similarly secure, contiguous, and impassable physical barrier along the southern border.”
Despite this new plan, some students do not feel threatened by the wall. Katherinne Reinoza, vice chair Movimiento Estudiantil de Chicanx Aztlán also known M.E.Ch.A., is not personally in fear of the proposed wall.
“I am protected by DACA. Also, the Trump administration has promised to deport those with a criminal records and I do not fall under that category,” she said.
If the wall isn’t enough, section five of the report also outlines plans to “Immediately construct, operate, control, or establish contacts to construct, operate, or control facilities to detain aliens.” The report states that detention facilities will be built in Tornillo, Texas and Donna, Texas, with holding space for 500 inadmissible aliens, including family units and unaccompanied minors in each location.
The report also addresses plans for future migration surges, which include holding spaces for up to 12,500 inadmissible aliens across six sites. In addition, ICE detention capacity has been expanded by 1,100 beds. ICE has identified 27 potential locations capable of providing 21,000 additional bed spaces.
According to The Washington Post, “Although Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly has said DHS is not pursuing mass deportations, Trump’s executive orders broadly expanded the pool of undocumented immigrants who are deemed a priority for removal.
Reinoza, though not directly affected, said she is skeptical of the wall actually being built.
“I believe the building of a wall is impossible. There are so many factors that should be considered before building a physical barrier between the U.S. and Mexico.”
