Hub Highlights: Local Leaders Stand Against Trump’s Attack on Immigrant Families
Since taking office, Donald Trump has waged an all-out assault on immigrant families, constitutional rights, and communities across the country. His administration has launched mass deportations, targeting not just undocumented immigrants but also longtime residents, workers, U.S. citizens, and military veterans. Last week, Trump also rescinded protections for “sensitive locations,”–meaning that officers can conduct their reckless raids in schools, churches, and even hospitals. He has attempted to gut birthright citizenship with an unconstitutional executive order attacking the 14th Amendment (now blocked in court). Trump has militarized immigration enforcement, deploying armed forces to the border to stage a manufactured “crisis.” He has gutted asylum protections, making it nearly impossible for vulnerable migrants to seek refuge in the U.S., and has threatened to punish cities and local governments that refuse to carry out his mass deportation agenda. While Trump and his allies justify these actions under the guise of security, their real goal is to strip millions—including American-born children—of their rights, destabilize local economies, and tear families apart. But resistance is growing. Across the country, local leaders are refusing to comply with Trump’s overreach and fighting back.
Here’s how leaders across the country are standing up to Trump’s attacks:
State Attorneys General Reject Federal Overreach
Hawai‘i Attorney General Anne Lopez, along with attorneys general from 10 other states (CA, NY, CO, CT, IL, MD, MA, NM, RI, VT), issued a joint statement rejecting Trump’s attempt to commandeer local law enforcement for immigration enforcement. Citing longstanding Supreme Court precedent, they stated: “The U.S. Constitution prevents the federal government from commandeering states to enforce federal laws.” They warned that any illegal overreach from Trump’s DOJ “will not go unchallenged.”
Governors and Mayors Defend Their Communities
Illinois – Gov. JB Pritzker pushed back on Trump’s immigration raids, saying Illinois will cooperate on deporting violent criminals but won’t support targeting law-abiding immigrants who have built lives in the U.S. He called for a path to citizenship instead of mass removals.
Washington – Gov. Bob Ferguson signed an executive order creating a rapid response team to help Washington families targeted for deportation under Trump. Surrounded by advocates chanting “Keep families together!”, he emphasized protecting children by ensuring they stay connected with caregivers and relatives.
Newark, NJ – Mayor Ras Baraka condemned a recent ICE raid that detained U.S. citizens and a military veteran, calling it an “unconstitutional attack on American families.” He vowed to fight for all Newark residents and reject racial profiling in immigration enforcement.
Chicago, IL – Mayor Brandon Johnson reaffirmed that “regardless of who is in the White House, Chicago remains a welcoming city.” He pledged to uphold the city’s Welcoming City Ordinance and protect immigrant families.
El Paso, TX – Mayor Renard Johnson criticized Trump’s plan to deploy U.S. troops to the border, emphasizing that El Paso is “a very safe city” and that migrant families can “live in peace in our communities.”
St. Paul, MN – Mayor Melvin Carter reaffirmed that city workers, including police, will not enforce federal immigration laws or ask for documentation as a condition for city services.
Denver, CO – Mayor Mike Johnston called Trump’s federal immigration crackdown “a calamity” and added immigrants in Denver are “working, paying taxes, and supporting their families. We don’t want to see those folks pulled off the job or their kids taken out of school.”
Pittsburgh, PA – Mayor Ed Gainey declared that his administration will not cooperate with ICE, emphasizing that immigration enforcement should not come at the expense of public trust and safety. He criticized Trump’s immigration policies as fear-driven and called on the federal government to pursue real, lasting immigration solutions that help cities grow instead of stoking fear.
Police Chiefs Reject Trump’s Mass Deportation Agenda
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department stated that officers “will not stop, question, detain, arrest, or place an immigration hold” on individuals based solely on immigration status.
Chicago Police Department reaffirmed its policy of not assisting in civil immigration enforcement.
Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer said his department has “no plans to participate in any raids” and emphasized that enforcing immigration laws is not the role of local police.
Stockton Police Department declared it will not support ICE enforcement and is committed to serving all community members, including undocumented residents.
Minneapolis Police Department stated that officers are prohibited from asking about immigration status unless investigating human trafficking or smuggling cases.
Grand Prairie Police Chief Daniel Scesney stated that “my officers would not be using their time efficiently if they were driving around trying to find people who might have been born in another place.”
Congressional Leaders Call Out Trump’s Cruelty
Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) condemned Trump’s mass deportation agenda, calling it cruel and radical. He warned that indiscriminate deportations won’t make the country safer but will drive up prices for everyone.
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) called Trump’s mass deportation plans "inhumane" on Meet the Press, warning they would tear families apart, disrupt workforces, and drive up costs for essentials like housing and food.
Rep. Sylvia Ortiz-Velez (D-WI) warned that “good, hardworking people deserve dignity and a real pathway to citizenship.” She emphasized that Wisconsin’s children and families should not live in fear of detention and separation.
Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) condemned Trump’s mass deportation plans as “un-American”, stating that sanctuary policies protect the most vulnerable in our communities.
Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) called ICE raids “more about media attention and intimidation than actual enforcement.”
Rep. Chuy García (D-IL) assailed Trump’s immigration plans as “hateful and xenophobic” during a press conference. “I am an immigrant who represents a district with many immigrants,” he said, calling on the president and his Republican allies to bring “real solutions, not propaganda to stoke fear and chaos disguised as policies.”
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) slammed the Laken Riley Act, warning it could strip due process from immigrants and endanger Dreamers. She also condemned Trump’s mass deportation plans as reckless, highlighting that the raids have so far targeted U.S. citizens, kids, and military veterans.
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) warned that deporting undocumented farmworkers would hurt farmers and drive up grocery prices for American families, emphasizing the economic consequences of mass deportations.
Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA) condemned Trump and House Republicans' attempts to strip birthright citizenship, stating, “If you are born in America, you are an American.” He urged them to stop attacking the rights of U.S.-born children.
Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-IL) rejected Trump’s anti-immigrant agenda, declaring that true American greatness means offering refuge, rest, and safety to those in need. As a daughter of immigrants and citizen by birthright, she vowed to fight fear, hate, and division with hope and unity.
Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-TX) criticized Trump’s mass deportation agenda, saying it targets law-abiding immigrants instead of the focused enforcement he promised, despite their contributions to the economy and ties to U.S. communities.
As Trump attempts to force local communities to comply with his deportation agenda, mayors, police departments, attorneys general, and members of Congress are pushing back. They are refusing to let federal overreach undermine community trust, public safety, and the fundamental rights of all residents.