As Donald Trump prepares to take office, a wave of concern has swept through the migrant community in New York City. Many have made the difficult choice to leave city shelters, fearing the promises of intensified ICE raids that Trump highlighted during his recent rally.

Migrants in the city, huddled in crowded shelters, are experiencing heightened anxiety, unsure of what the future holds. One individual from Venezuela expressed his belief that it was wiser to depart the shelter before Trump’s inauguration. The uncertainty of what lay ahead under the new administration prompted him to consider other options, though he remained undecided about his next destination.

Another migrant residing in Manhattan voiced the tense atmosphere pervading his shelter. He, like many others, felt powerless against the looming threat of deportation, and the prospect of ICE raids seemed to cast a dark shadow over the shelter’s residents.

The fear of deportation under Trump’s leadership is a reality many are reluctantly accepting. While they dread the potential raids, they feel they have little to no alternatives. Trump’s declaration of “a massive raid across the nation” has only intensified these fears, particularly in major cities like New York and Chicago, where many ICE field offices are located.

For these migrants, the anticipation of what may come only heightens their anxiety and sense of helplessness. Each passing day in the shelter brings with it a fresh wave of unease, as the promises of increased immigration enforcement loom menacingly over their daily lives.