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Reaction to President's Trump Deportation Promises

BALTIMORE (WJZ)--  President Donald Trump signed an executive order to start building the wall along the Mexican border.

The new executive orders have sparked even more fears amongst the local immigrant community.

"The secretary of homeland security working with myself and my staff will begin immediate construction of a border wall," Trump said. "A nation without borders is not a nation. Beginning today, the united states of america gets back control of its borders."

Some are wondering what the president's immigration crackdown could mean for themselves and their families.

Raquel Ramirez was born in the United States but her parents were not.

"To have that thought of maybe coming home, being split up is really sad," said Ramirez.

Ramirez says her family has worked hard for years and have been trying to buy a house. Now she worries-- with the president's new policies-- all that could disappear.

"It's just really scary that all they've worked for is going to go to the trash," she said.

Local groups-- like Casa de Maryland are now organizing to fight back against possible deportations.

"We know in our community we're going to continue to fight regardless of what's happening," said Lydia Walther-Rodriguez of Casa de Maryland.

The president is also taking a hard line on sanctuary cities that provide safe zones for undocumented immigrants.

A debate is underway in Howard County to declare sanctuary status and in Baltimore. An executive order prohibits police from asking about immigration status.

"We don't walk around asking people where they're from. That's just not our policy," said Baltimore City Mayor Catherine Pugh.

However, City officials stress they don't meet sanctuary status because the City doesn't operate the jails and can't make decision about cooperating with the feds.

"We call on our local officials to continue to support because this is a time when we're looking at you," said Lydia.

As for Raquel Ramirez she worries about the future and wonders what that means for her family.

"It's only been less than a week and he still has three or four years to go," said Ramirez.

"It's kinda hard because I don't know if I'm going to see them again if I come back from school and I have a little sister and I don't what's going to happen with her," said Gabriela Dominguez.

"I feel like me as youth I should be focusing on school and stuff like that not about losing my friends and family members that I really love," said Crisaly De Los Santos.

They say all they can do is wait and see how it will all play out.

The president is also trying to strip federal funding from sanctuary cities that shield undocumented immigrants.

A senior government official says Mexico's president is considering canceling next week's visit to Washington.

Officials say while Baltimore is not officially a sanctuary city, it is a welcoming city for immigrants.

The White House has still not announced what it plans to do about "deferred action for childhood arrivals"--- or DACA.

More than 750,000 young immigrants are part of the program.

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