ABSTRACT
Barack Obama oversaw an increase in the apprehension and deportation of almost three million undocumented immigrants, more than any other president so far. In 2016, Donald Trump was elected president after repeatedly calling migrants “drug dealers,” “rapists,” and “criminals,” even though evidence shows that immigration correlates with lower crime rates. One of Trump’s first acts in office was the attempt to ban immigrants from seven majority-Muslim countries. He further opposed immigrants from Haiti, El Salvador, and certain countries in Africa he called “shithole countries” while promoting immigration from places like Norway, an undisguised appeal to white supremacism and “racial purity.” Indeed, Trump has called migrants “animals” who are “invading” the country or suggested they will “infest” the US, using language reminiscent of the Nazi designation of “vermin” for the Jews. The advance notice gave immigrant advocates time to counsel families about their rights, which included not opening the door or answering questions, and on social media.
