By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com
As the federal government intensifies its crackdown on undocumented immigration, cities across the country are grappling with political pressure, legal risks and growing fear within immigrant communities.
Credit: AP Photo
According to the Pew Research Center, the U.S. immigrant population reached a record 53.3 million people in January 2025. By June, however, the foreign-born population had declined by more than 1 million, marking the first decrease since the 1960s amid significant federal enforcement.
Cities opposing the crackdown risk losing federal funding or facing scrutiny from the Department of Justice, placing mayors in difficult positions as they weigh community safety against potential retaliation, the local leaders said Jan. 29 during a convening of the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Washington, D.C.
For Adrian O. Mapp, mayor of Plainview, N.J. (D), the issue is deeply personal. His mother arrived in the United States in the 1960s as an undocumented immigrant.
“Because of her sacrifices, I have never been un-documented,” said Mapp.
Mapp questioned the true intent behind the federal effort, which officials have said targets dangerous criminals.
“We seem to be living in a dystopian society today,” he said. “It doesn’t appear to me that this is really about immigration enforcement, and that there is some other agenda at work here.”
Denver Mayor Mike Johnston (D) said his city has already faced federal pressure regarding its policy positions, including threats to health and transit funding.
“At each stage our belief has been we’re not going to be bullied or blackmailed out of our values,” he said. “We’ve sued to fight that it is unconstitutional. The more of us that raise our voices collectively, the more powerful that voice is and the less you can be singled out.”
In Fort Wayne, Ind., Mayor Sharon Tucker (D) said fears have intensified within the city’s large Burmese immigrant population.
“Today, we convened a meeting with my leadership team to discuss our plans and options,” said Tucker.
She said this is on the heels of the recent announcement by the Department of Homeland Security that the Temporary Protection Status of Myanmar (Burmese) nationals had been rescinded, meaning those in Fort Wayne and elsewhere would have to return to their home country.
“My community is now living on the edge of their seat of fear that ICE (United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement) will be moving into our community,” said Tucker.
Photo Credit: AFRO Photo/Tashi McQueen
With this new reality, Tucker is working to ensure first responders know how to assist immigrants and residents affected by ICE actions in a safe and reasonable manner.
Jonathan Miller, chief program officer of the Public Rights Project, said cities must provide clear guidance to public safety agencies. The Public Rights Project is a national nonprofit that provides legal support to local governments nationwide.
“What we’ve seen from cities across the country is that it’s important to give clear direction to public safety about interactions with Homeland Security,” said Miller. “Encouraging your public safety to engage directly with your residents to ensure their safety is crucial.”
Some mayors say the political and moral pressure to push back must be balanced against the real consequences residents may face.
“It’s a balancing act,” said Tim Busse, mayor of Bloomington, Minn. “It’s one that’s, frankly, very un-calm in a lot of ways.”
“If I speak out, go after somebody, step up in my mayor’s role like this, the folks that will be impacted are the Black and Brown people in my community, not me,” he said. “I’m not the one who’s getting thrown into the back of an unmarked van.”
As enforcement efforts continue, mayors say they will continue to pursue legal options while working to stabilize their communities and protect existing resources.