Immigration attorney offices in Houston are fielding hundreds of calls with questions as Trump’s executive orders go into effect.
HOUSTON — Nearly three days into President Donald Trump’s second term, a slew of executive orders has tightened the border and is laying the groundwork for rapid deportations.
In Houston, there’s no official confirmation ICE raids have begun, but the president has made clear that when they do, churches, hospitals and schools won’t be off-limits.
“There’s palpable fear in the community,” said Cesar Espinoza, the executive director of FIEL Houston.
Trump already revoked a Biden-era policy that prohibited ICE agents from making arrests at churches, schools and hospitals.
“In a sense they’re saying if you go to church, you want medical care, and if you’re sending your children to school and you’re undocumented, we’ll be there,” said immigration attorney, Mana Yegani.
Fear is leading to questions and lots of phone calls. Yegani said more than a hundred have come into her office just in the last 24 hours.
“The concerns about deportations is massive,” said Yegani.
Yegani said previously safe places are not feeling very safe anymore for many clients.
“For families to be in fear of sending their kids to school is absolutely heartbreaking,” said Yegani.
HISD, the state’s largest school district said it educates students regardless of immigration status. They released this statement:
“HISD enrolls and educates any school-aged student who lives within our attendance boundaries regardless of immigration status. We will continue to follow federal and state laws, which dictate how any law enforcement agency interacts with students on a school campus. The District will comply with the law as we are required to do, and we will continue to provide guidance and support to its schools as issues evolve. Above all else, the District will educate all students, regardless of immigration status, that come through our doors in a fair, just, equitable manner.”
“That has the potential to start having an impact here locally if people stop showing up for work or school or for church,” said Espinoza. “We could see things start changing really quickly.”
The Trump administration said it’s targeting criminals in its crackdown. That’s something immigration rights advocates like FIEL Houston do support.
But the concern is it won’t stop there. They want migrants to remember they have rights if they’re arrested.
“People are just trying to make ends meet and contributing every day to the fabric of Houston,” said Espinoza. “There will be people who are picked up at the wrong place at the wrong time. Those are the folks that worry us.”
Espinoza tells KHOU 11 News there is a lot of misinformation spreading about mass raids in Houston. He’s asking people to make sure they’re getting accurate information before sharing something that can lead to panic.