MOLINE, Ill. — During his first presidency and in his campaign leading up to the 2024 election, President-elect Donald Trump repeatedly pledged to crack down on illegal immigration.
On Nov. 18, Trump posted on Truth Social confirming his plans to declare a national emergency and use the U.S. military for mass deportations of undocumented immigrants.
Trump has announced several immigration hardliners as administration picks. That includes Trump's longtime adviser Stephen Miller as the deputy chief of policy, and former Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Tom Homan as 'border czar,' a position that does not require Senate confirmation.
Trump's proposed plan surrounding illegal immigration has left many immigrants here in the Quad Cities feeling concerned and uncertain about the future. News 8's Drew Coffey spoke with a few immigrants, both documented and undocumented, about how they are processing the national threat of deportation.
Noemi Roque immigrated with her family from Mexico 25 years ago.
"It was so hard for them. We had to sleep on the floors," Roque said.
She said the transition to life in America can be a turtle race.
"Not knowing the culture, not knowing the language, we have to face many barriers," Roque said.
Roque and her family learned what was to them a foreign culture.
"Right now with the elections and what's happening with the new president, they're scared," Roque said.
One local undocumented immigrant, a 20-year-old who wished to remain anonymous, shared this fear.
"I'm worried for the families, everything that will be impacted, including the economy, and all the Latino communities that will be affected. I'm worried for the families, and I'm worried for myself."
"I feel a lot of fear, but if he's saying he's only going to deport bad people, well hopefully it stays that way. Hopefully nothing happens to us," an undocumented 18-year-old said.
Amy DeHaven with the Quad Cities Alliance for Immigrant and Refugees said some immigrants are deciding whether to pack their bags and move out of the United States.
"It's so divisive right now and so much uncertainty that they really don't know what's going to happen, and we don't know either," DeHaven said.
She said one thing is certain — every immigrant has their own story to tell.
"Some of their stories are just hard," DeHaven said. "They're humans. I understand that it's difficult. Our last administration didn't handle it well, but I don't think the extreme opposite is the answer."
One of the people lending an ear to the problem is Roque herself, who now works with the Quad Cities Alliance for Immigrant and Refugees. She said the conversations remind her of her own journey.
"I think that's where my heart is just because I can feel what they're feeling. I can be in their shoes," Roque said.
Others are worried about what they might have to leave behind.
"I feel bad because a lot of families have to leave their kids behind," the anonymous 20-year-old said. "Their homes. Everything they worked for in this country, they have to leave it behind. I feel bad for that."
"I feel really bad for them because this is a great country," the anonymous 18-year-old said. "I wish everyone could live a great life here."