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With all that in mind, most immigration funders have spent the time since BidenвЂ™s victory in a state of guarded optimism. But itвЂ™s also a highly uncertain prospect, given the possibility of a divided legislature come February, or even slim Democratic majorities. President-elect Joe Biden ran on a promise to speedily unravel TrumpвЂ™s draconian immigration policies, and thereвЂ™s a lot he can do early on to make good on those commitments.ДЄt the same time, the new administration will face significant headwinds in its pursuit of that project, including an immediate need to focus on COVID-19, as well as what a recent Migration Policy Institute brief described as вЂњa dizzying array of Trump executive actions, policy guidance and regulatory changes-some interlocking and thus difficult to unwind-atop a long-antiquated immigration system.вЂќ Redesigning that baroque system via comprehensive congressional legislation is the holy grail of immigration reform. Unlike, say, criminal justice practices, immigration and refugee policy is largely a national matter, under the discretion of the executive branch. Now, at the end of an unprecedented year and an unprecedented presidency, immigration funders once again face an uncertain future.

Intersectional movement building also found itself better funded as immigrant and refugee rights advocates emerged to lead the anti-Trump вЂњresistance.вЂќ In particular, rapid-response funding got a major boost in the aftermath of 2016 as grantmakers moved to protect people and organizations made more vulnerable by the new administrationвЂ™s policies. Those actions, taken independently from Congress, gave rise to some of the most infamous practices of the Trump era, including inhumane immigrant detention and family separation at the border.ДЇor immigrant advocates in philanthropy, TrumpвЂ™s initial ascent did spur some big changes to the number of funders operating in the space. And Trump did just that with a flurry of executive actions during his first 100 days that continued throughout his term.

VIGILANT PURSUIT PROGRAM FULL

Winning the White House after a campaign full of stark anti-immigrant rhetoric, the then-President-elect promised to remake U.S.

Four years ago, the election of Donald Trump left immigrant justice organizations and their funders reeling.

Vigilant pursuit program