Order rescinds legal work status, requires registration
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) - An announcement from the Trump Administration on Tuesday to rescind legal immigrant status from four countries is being felt across the nation and in South Dakota.
The founder of a non-profit organization that provides legal support for legal immigrants and unaccompanied children provided some insight into how Tuesday’s order affects South Dakota communities.
Former South Dakota Governor, and current DHS Secretary, Kristi Noem offered words of advice.
“America welcomes those who respect our laws. Follow the law and you’ll find opportunity. Break it and. You’ll find consequences,” Noem said.
CEO of the Non-profit South Dakota Voices for Peace, Taneeza Islam, said the President’s rescinding of a law has now turned legal workers into criminals.
The former administration allowed legal entry and work permits through a CPB One App.
Many who registered with the app have received messages to leave the country and were given instructions on how to self-report their plan of departure.
“Monday they were legally here, legally working, and yesterday, they became unlawfully present. They are working in our communities and across the country lawfully. Their status was terminated yesterday. Automatically, these folks, now about 900,000 people in our country, need to leave by April 24,” Islam said.
Proponents of those wanting more deportations have concerns about an influx of criminals who shouldn’t be in the country. Islam sees the contributions her clients make in South Dakota.
“There’s different parts factories, there’s meat processing plants. You know, there’s furniture factories that we have here in South Dakota. And let’s not forget our agricultural industry,” Islam said.
There’s one community Islam believes will feel the effects of Tuesday’s order.
“And it hit Yankton pretty hard. There are workers from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela. Those are the four countries where, if they came through CBP One and through humanitarian parole, their status was terminated yesterday,” Islam explained.
Another order is mandating all undocumented people to identify themselves.
“Registry for all people who have been in the United States for more than 30 days. And if they don’t engage in this process, it can be criminalized with a penalty of fine or jail time,” Islam said.
In uncertain times for affected families, they also can be more vulnerable to other issues, such as human trafficking. That’s where the multilingual immigration report “News for You” has helped to quell rumors and heightened fear.
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