As the Trump-Vance administration prepares to take office, uncertainty over the future of immigration law fuels nationwide apprehension about sweeping policy shifts that could impact undocumented residents, international students and local industries that rely on immigrant labor.
Raffi Friedman, an attorney and clinical instructor with the Immigrant Justice Clinic (IJC) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, told The Daily Cardinal the Trump-Vance administration plans a broader, more aggressive approach than the Biden-Harris administration which focused on selective immigration enforcement, prioritizing those with criminal histories or recent border crossings.
“Under Biden, administration policy was like using a scalpel to address issues, whereas under Trump, it’s more like a machete,” Friedman said.
Friedman said the new administration will target 11 million undocumented individuals in the United States, not just those with criminal backgrounds. For Wisconsin’s undocumented population of approximately 70,000, this could mean deportation despite having established lives, jobs, tax payments and families in the state.
The implications of such policies reach far beyond individuals directly affected.
“The stakes are incredibly high here,” Friedman said. “Undocumented people in Wisconsin aren’t just isolated individuals: they’re spouses, parents, workers and community members. Deporting them would tear families apart, leave children without parents, and destabilize local industries like dairy, which depends heavily on immigrant labor.”
Trump campaigned on policies to end birthright citizenship and expand deportations to interior states, which Friedman said would "expedite" removals. This push for mass deportation and denaturalization would disproportionately impact states like Wisconsin, traditionally less targeted by federal immigration enforcement but home to substantial immigrant communities. Of Wisconsin’s undocumented population, 41% is estimated to have at least one U.S. citizen child, making them especially vulnerable to separation under harsh immigration enforcement.
“We’re looking at a shift in priorities. This administration has made it clear that no one will be off limits, whether they have families here or not,” Friedman said. “For a state like Wisconisn, this could mean real change in our workforce, particularly in industries like dairy where immigrants play a crucial role.”
Friedman also expressed concern over other potential changes, such as the sudden end of discretionary programs that have allowed vulnerable groups, such as Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan, and Venezuela parole programs and Temporary Protected Status, which includes people from countries like Afghanistan. Around 6,000 DACA recipients who are "active and contributing adult members of our communities" in Wisconsin would also be impacted, she said.
The uncertainty surrounding immigration policy is prompting heightened anxiety among students and community members. While these changes are still in the early stages, Friedman urged students and community members to act quickly.
The IJC has been a lifeline for those needing legal assistance or simply a place of support, especially during periods of heightened policy shifts, Friedman said.
“We’re here to help students access resources, find legal representation and manage the unique challenges they may face,” Friedman said.
Friedman highlighted the importance of local support, noting that Madison has a strong community of immigrant advocates. Additionally, the Madison Police Department does not cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, offering some degree of protection, she said.
The shifting landscape of immigration policy presents challenges, not only for the individuals directly impacted but also for those working to uphold immigrant rights.
“The legal community here is mobilizing,” said Friedman. “We’ve witnessed the human suffering these policies can cause, and we’re preparing for what’s to come.”
Friedman, a former federal public defender on the San Diego border during the first Trump administration, said she is prepared to "zealously advocate" for her clients’ rights.
“I’ve seen families torn apart, people denied due process and the toll these policies take on human lives,” Friedman said.
But policies can not be enacted until January, and even after the inauguration, can't all happen at once, Friedman said.
"The Trump agenda is immense, will cost millions upon millions of dollars, require extensive mobilization, and be subject to lawsuits," Friedman said. "If students are unsure about their status, whether it be a student visa, work visa or otherwise, they should consult with a lawyer as soon as possible."
