U.S. migrant communities on edge as Trump vows mass deportation of undocumented migrants

TEXAS: For nearly two decades, Valeria Serna has lived just a six-hour drive from her extended family in northern Mexico.

But not once did she go home to visit them.

When she was eight years old, her mother took her to the United States illegally. Serna said she lives every day in fear of being discovered in the country undocumented.

At 18, she finally found some semblance of stability.

She gained protection under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, a federal program that allows certain undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children to live and work in the country without fear to be expelled.

“It kind of made me feel like I could finally call this place home – like they accepted me too.” It gave me a sense of confidence,” she told CNA.

But today, new fears have emerged.

Donald Trump, who will be sworn in as the next president of the United States next week, has pledged to make immediate and sweeping changes on day one, including launching the largest mass deportation in American history.

Could Trump use the military?

Although details of Trump’s plan remain scant, he has threatened to mobilize the U.S. military to help deport up to 11 million people who are in the country illegally.

It remains rare for U.S. troops to be deployed domestically, but it is not uncommon.