And so it begins. Dorchester has long been a destination for waves of immigrants— and it’s what makes our community a wonderfully diverse and special place. It’s painful to see our neighbors and friends have to bear this burden of fear, preparation, and anxiety.

As promised, the new president wasted no time on Monday in following through on his campaign pledges to target immigrants and their children with a flurry of executive orders. If they survive court challenges—and we hope they won’t— the Trumpist agenda would end so-called “birthright citizenship,” which has extended US citizenship to people born here, even if their parents aren’t themselves citizens or even living here with permission.

The order, thankfully, would not be retroactive, which is a relief to millions of US-born citizens who have been living in fear of deportation from their own country. But it would kick in for anyone born to “unlawfully present” parents within 30 days of Jan. 20, 2025. Lawyers who oppose the order, which Trump telegraphed for months on the campaign trail, were ready and waiting with lawsuits of their own that challenge the presidential action, arguing that he does not have the authority to change the rules.

“Denying citizenship to US-born children is not only unconstitutional — it’s also a reckless and ruthless repudiation of American values,” said Anthony Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union, according to State House News Service. “Birthright citizenship is part of what makes the United States the strong and dynamic nation that it is. This order seeks to repeat one of the gravest errors in American history, by creating a permanent subclass of people born in the US who are denied full rights as Americans.”

Closer to home, the Boston-based Lawyers for Civil Rights also filed a suit on behalf of “expectant mothers and immigrant organizations” to counter Trump’s order, which it characterizes as “overtly racist and threatens to harm millions of children and families across the country.”

“This executive order is a brutal and unconstitutional attempt to redefine what it means to be an American,” said Iván Espinoza-Madrigal, the group’s executive director. “The Constitution is clear: birthplace, not parentage, determines citizenship in this country. This lawsuit is about ensuring that the fundamental rights guaranteed by our Constitution are upheld.”

“We are seeing first-hand the fear and instability this policy creates for mothers in our community,” said Mattapan’s Rev. Dieufort Fleurissaint of Haitian Americans United. “For many of our immigrant families, birthright citizenship is the foundation of the next generation’s future and security. Stripping away this right is cruel.”

On Monday, Lawyers for Civil Rights launched a new “Immigrant Defense Hotline”— 617-988-0606— that will provide “timely and free legal advice for immigrants facing imminent threats related to immigration enforcement, such as immigration raids or mass deportations.” The group will also offer training to attorneys and law firms willing to offer pro-bono counsel to people impacted.

The group has additionally prepared helpful guidance for people who may need to plan for how to prepare for their children “in case of deportation or separation”— including designating people to act as caregivers or guardians in case they are taken into custody.

Another document prepared by the LCR group offers guidance on “interactions with ICE and Law Enforcement,” from asking to see valid warrants and whether to open doors for police or ICE agents. “Always exercise your right to remain silent,” it urges.

– Bill Forry