With Donald Trump’s return as President, around six million undocumented workers face heightened anxiety over potential mass deportations. Misleading social media videos have fueled panic, depicting alleged ICE raids that are often unrelated or misrepresented. While some cities have seen no significant enforcement, Newark experienced a raid, contradicting online claims. Public concern is rampant, but official reports suggest arrests align with typical January figures, indicating that the situation may not be as alarming as perceived.
Concerns Loom for Undocumented Workers with Trump’s Return
As Donald Trump steps back into the role of President of the United States, approximately six million undocumented workers are engulfed in a wave of anxiety. His commitment to expelling “millions and millions” of immigrants from his very first day in office on January 20 has heightened fears about their future. Many are turning to social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and X in a desperate search for information and reassurance. However, the surge of videos depicting alleged “raids” has sparked a digital panic that is far removed from the actual situation on the ground.
Misleading Videos Fueling Public Fear
Short clips taken out of context are amplifying this climate of fear. Almost immediately upon Trump’s return to power, videos claiming to show mass deportations began circulating. One clip features men in vests and yellow helmets running frantically in the street, with captions suggesting they were captured during an ICE operation in Chicago targeting undocumented workers. In reality, the footage originates from Virginia, as indicated by visible road signs, and dates back to December 14, 2022—well before Trump’s reelection.
A second part of the video allegedly showcases other undocumented workers being apprehended at their workplaces. However, this footage is also unrelated to Trump’s administration and actually stems from a shooting incident in front of an ice cream shop in the summer of 2022. Finally, another clip purports to demonstrate a new approach by American agents to identify undocumented children in schools for deportations. This video, traced back to a recent shooting incident in a Tennessee high school, has no correlation to any organized effort against immigrants. While the Trump administration did permit arrests in sensitive locations like schools and hospitals, the events depicted in these clips do not relate to a widespread deportation initiative.
A wave of alarm is sweeping across social media, with influential accounts primarily in the Mexican community sharing lists of cities allegedly facing imminent ICE raids. One post on X boldly claims, “ICE RAIDS ON JANUARY 21 IN THESE CITIES,” while a prominent Latino creator on TikTok has shared multiple videos detailing supposed upcoming immigration control operations in cities such as Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco. Within just four days, her posts have accumulated over 6.3 million views, reflecting the deep-seated anxiety in these communities.
But how valid are these fears? Chicago, a focal point for Trump’s immigration policy, has not seen any large-scale operations against undocumented individuals. Local media outlets, like Wbez, report that after weeks of speculation and a weekend of heightened fear, there have been no confirmed enforcement actions related to immigration law.
In a contrasting situation, Newark has witnessed a raid, with the city’s mayor expressing disbelief over agents entering a business without a search warrant. Interestingly, Newark did not feature on any of the lists circulating online.
The rampant disinformation continues to exacerbate public concern. An individual from Illinois asked online about the safety of their family living in the suburbs, while another expressed confusion over conflicting reports regarding Los Angeles. A young man on TikTok shared his frustration, questioning the existence of any concrete evidence regarding these supposed raids.
One user summed up the sentiment by stating, “I feel like this is all just bluff, and Trump is just trying to provoke fear among foreigners.” This sentiment is echoed by recent data. On Thursday evening, a White House spokesperson reported that “538 undocumented migrants” have been arrested since Trump’s inauguration, with “hundreds” expelled on military flights. These numbers, however, align closely with figures typical for January 2024, indicating that the current situation is not as unprecedented as it may seem.