MEXICO CITY

With President Donald Trump’s return to power, his administration has swiftly implemented his promised anti-immigration policies, striking fear into millions of undocumented immigrants across the US.

"It's scary because I don't know if I'm going to leave for work and never come back," said Guadalupe, a 44-year-old Mexican national living in San Diego, California, who requested that her last name not be published.

"We've always had it in mind that we're not from here. So at any moment, they could send us back. But we feel we are more from here. Maybe not legally, but I feel like this is my home now," she told Anadolu over the phone.

The life Guadalupe has lovingly built for herself and her family over the past 23 years in San Diego is now at risk. Millions of Trump supporters back his aggressive deportation policies, which target both undocumented and even naturalized immigrants in the US.

Mass raids and deportations begin

From his first day in office on Jan. 20, Trump signed executive orders aimed at expelling large numbers of immigrants, including measures to end birthright citizenship. In the weeks that followed, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) intensified its daily raids.

The raids have created an atmosphere of fear, with authorities reportedly targeting immigrants in everyday settings. Guadalupe and many others rely on neighbors and social media groups to track ICE activity.

"They position themselves in places where people usually shop for groceries—like near Walmart, Costco, or gas stations. They know that the community has no option to go to or is unavoidable. So they set up there. It creates a lot of pressure and fear," said Guadalupe.

Mexicans at the forefront

Mexicans, who make up the largest immigrant demographic in the US, have been particularly affected. Of the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants in the country, more than 4 million are of Mexican origin.

According to Mexican authorities, 4,094 immigrants have been deported under Trump so far. While this figure is not yet the dramatic increase he promised, his rhetoric has already fostered a more hostile environment for immigrants.

For Thelma, a 47-year-old Mexican national living in California, Trump's return to power reflects a broader sentiment among many Americans.

"Well, obviously, the fact that Trump won shows me that there are certainly many people who agree with this racist rhetoric of Trump," she told Anadolu, requesting that her last name not be published.

"In general, we feel betrayed by those people who voted for that reason. As an immigrant, it's a very unsafe situation. There's a lot of uncertainty, insecurity, and racism. That's my opinion, and it's what I've seen—we can really feel it," she said.

Resurgence of anti-immigrant sentiment

Trump’s nationalist platform has emboldened his supporters and stoked anti-immigrant sentiments.

During his first term, anti-Latino hate crimes rose by 21% in 2018, according to the FBI. The Pew Research Center also reported that by 2020, 50% of Latinos had experienced discrimination amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Guadalupe recalled how Trump’s previous presidency impacted the country’s social fabric.

"When he first ran, it felt like racists who had been hiding suddenly came out into the open. This time, it's even worse," she said.

Trump’s supporters argue that his immigration policies are necessary, citing record-high border crossings during the Biden administration. The Migration Policy Institute estimates that 5.8 million immigrants entered the US under President Joe Biden, fueling Republican criticism of lax border security.

Thelma said that the US relies on immigrant labor, particularly undocumented workers.

"Unfortunately, most Mexican or Latino migrants come to take jobs that almost nobody wants—the lowest-paying ones, like cooking, cleaning staff and agriculture. So it's important because, in a way, it benefits the United States too, though it may sound harsh, because of cheap labor," said Thelma.

According to BBVA Research, 31% of Mexican immigrant men work in construction, while 20.7% of Mexican women work in education and health services.

Uncertain future under Trump

Trump has threatened to impose a 25% tariff on Mexican goods to pressure the Mexican government into cooperating with his immigration policies. Meanwhile, Mexican laborers remain uncertain about what lies ahead.

"There's always a lot of uncertainty, and he (Trump) talks a lot, says a lot, but changes his mind a lot. So anyone new in charge brings uncertainty because we don't know if they'll keep the promises they make -- although he's always been a racist," Guadalupe said.

In a more controversial proposal, Trump has also raised the idea of using Guantanamo Bay, a notorious prison established in Cuba, whose legacy is mired in human rights violations and torture of prisoners, to imprison deported migrants.

As his policies unfold, millions of immigrants brace for an uncertain and perilous future in a country they have long called home.