Thirteen immigrant-rights groups endorsed Kamala Harris for president on Thursday, warning that the election of Donald Trump could devastate immigrant communities across the country.
“They have made clear that their proposed largest deportation operation in the history of our country would be unsparing and indiscriminate in targeting immigrants,” Vanessa Cárdenas, executive director of America’s Voice, said of Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio.
Speaking during a Zoom press conference with participants across the nation, several members of FIRM Action, a national political action network, described Harris as the candidate more suited to address migration and border issues in the U.S.
During the news conference, participants raised concerns about Trump and Vance’s rhetorical attacks on immigrants.
Trump’s campaign website lists immigration as his top priorities. The first item on his agenda, according to the website, is to “seal the border and stop the migrant invasion.” The second item is to “carry out the largest deportation operation in American history.” Capital News Service reached out to the campaign for a more specific response on Thursday but did not receive one.
Responding to a question from CNS, one of the activists predicted that a Trump administration would harm immigrant communities in Maryland right along with the rest of the country.
“We refuse to go back to this nightmare,” said Gustavo Torres, board president for CASA in Action, a political action group working at the state and federal level.
“For black and brown immigrants and working families, this election is about survival,” he said.
Harris recognizes the difference between immigrants fleeing violence and those who are perpetrating it, said Christine Neumann-Ortiz, executive director of Voces de la Frontera Action.
“She distinguishes between people who are cartels and organized crime,” said Neumann-Ortiz, “and people who are fleeing cartels.”