US president Donald Trump has made his intention to make good on a promise to end so-called illegal immigration and start a wave of deportations clear.
Within his first day of office, Trump’s focus was largely on people of Hispanic origin who come across America’s southern border.
However, there are a lot of undocumented Irish in the US as McEntee Law Group’s managing partner Fiona McEntee has been reminded of this week.
Ms McEntee told The Hard Shoulder that the group have been “inundated” with calls and emails since Trump was elected.
“You know, it didn't just start this week- pretty much since the election results came out, we've just really been aware of just this heightened anxiety within the immigrant community,” she said.
“There is talk that here in Chicago [it] is going to be the epicentre of some of these kind of mass deportations and raids.
“So people are calling, either they are undocumented or a family member is undocumented, wondering if there are any immigration options available to them, wanting to establish a relationship with a law firm, just in case, God forbid, something happens.”
Ms McEntee said employers have been looking for advice on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) entering their workplace.
“We're also hearing from a lot of employers as well - they're kind of preparing their staff for worst case scenario, if ICE was to enter their establishment, what would they do,” she said.
President Donald Trump, left, holds a sabre after using it to cut a cake, as Vice President JD Vance looks on. Monday, Jan. 20, 2025 (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)Ms McEntee said she thinks that if mass deportations are seen at the rate that the Trump administration want, there will be an economic impact.
She said a lot of the people that are undocumented immigrants are hardworking people that might even be employers in the US themselves.
“We're not talking about hardened criminals who have aggravated felonies, like we all agree that those people don't belong here,” she said.
“Really the majority of people don't fall into that category - they're like the waitress who has been here for decades and is a hard working person and who is contributing a lot to our country.”
President Donald Trump , Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)Ms McEntee said that to her one of the most troubling executive orders is rolling back on birthright citizenship.
“The Trump administration is essentially trying to get rid of all of that with a new executive order and this would impact Irish people who are here undocumented, but also Irish people who are here on visas, who are working,” she said.
“Essentially they're trying to completely rewrite the US Constitution in relation to birthright citizenship.”
Mc McEntee encouraged the people living in America to “think beyond the slogans” when it comes to immigration.
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United States President Donald Trump. Credit: Aaron Schwartz/Pool via CNP /MediaPunch
