Comparing immigration policies | Letter

The recent immigration enforcement operation in Biddeford, which resulted in the fatal shooting of a legal immigrant, has left Mainers with many unanswered questions about immigration laws and what role federal agencies play in our communities.

The recent tragedy reminds us of the importance of examining immigration policy based on both facts and outcomes. Recent debates often frame the Obama administration and the Trump administration as polar opposites. Despite their unique enforcement strategies, both administrations deported around 3 million non-citizens.

The Obama administration focused on individuals who had recently crossed the border or individuals who had been convicted of specific crimes. President Obama also created programs like Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), which sought to protect immigrants brought into the U.S. as children.

The Trump administration prioritized a broader enforcement strategy, expanding which individuals were prioritized for arrest, increasing workforce and community enforcement and implementing policies like the “zero tolerance” policy, requiring all adults crossing the U.S-Mexico border without authorization to be criminally prosecuted. Children could not be held in adult detention centers, so this policy resulted in thousands of children being separated from their families.

Comparing both administrations demonstrates that the debate isn’t simply about how many people are deported but how enforcement is carried out and how communities experience policies. If we want policies that are effective and reflective of our values, it’s necessary to examine the successes and failures of every administration, regardless of where we stand politically.

Charlotte Waldrop
York

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