Undocumented immigrants in the United States, including Bangladeshi nationals, have been enveloped in fear following the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 47th president.
Since taking office on 20 January, his administration has intensified immigration enforcement across multiple states, resulting in widespread anxiety.
In one such incident, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested four Bangladeshis from the Fulton area of Brooklyn, New York.
Trump has signed over 100 executive orders on immigration since assuming office, including the repeal of 78 orders enacted during the Biden administration and the introduction of 47 new measures.
These include his commitment to cracking down on illegal immigration, with enforcement actions escalating across several states.
Undocumented individuals are being subjected to rigorous questioning under suspicion of illegal residency.
A Brooklyn-based official working with immigrants stated that the ICE agents, dressed in plain clothes, arrested four Bangladeshis who had been socialising in the Fulton area.
Witnesses reported that the agents asked for identification. While one individual protested, citing his Fifth Amendment rights, he was subsequently detained. Three others were also apprehended nearby.
In his inauguration speech, Trump, now 78, declared, "Millions of intruders are crossing our borders unchecked and becoming entangled in crimes. First, we will halt their entry at the borders, and then remove offenders already inside."
A state of emergency has since been declared at the Mexico border, with fortified security measures and the termination of a programme granting legal pathways to certain immigrants.
Disphora expressed concerns that Trump’s executive orders could disproportionately impact Bangladeshi immigrants, noting that longstanding routes used by Bangladeshis to enter the US via South American countries and the Mexico border have been sealed.
Previously, diversity in government hiring offered opportunities to immigrants, but merit-based recruitment now risks leaving many jobless.
Trump’s orders also target birthright citizenship.
Effective 30 days from now, children born in the US to undocumented immigrants will no longer be eligible for citizenship.
This controversial move, which clashes with the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution, has already led to legal challenges in 24 states and cities.
The crackdown has significantly altered the landscape of Bangladeshi-populated areas in New York.
Streets and restaurants that once teemed with life now appear deserted.
Officials advised to cooperate with law enforcement, refrain from working under false permits, and avoid unnecessary altercations.
As Trump’s policies continue to reshape the American immigration system, uncertainty looms large for countless families navigating this challenging new reality.
