Philadelphia, PA – Immigration policy is not abstract for Philadelphia families. It is tied to fear, work authorization, court dates, family responsibility, and the need for trusted legal guidance.
Speaking with Impacto, Anu Thomas, Esq., executive director of Esperanza Immigration Legal Services, known locally as EILS, described the current moment as one of “unprecedented enforcement” against immigrant communities.
Thomas said the crisis is rooted not only in policy changes, but in the design of the immigration system itself. “Our immigration system is a system and immigration law in particular is created to keep people out,” she said. “It’s actually very difficult to find a pathway to come into the U.S.”
To explain the risks families are facing, Thomas broke immigration status into what she called “three buckets”: permanent status, temporary status, and people without current status.
The first bucket includes people with permanent status, such as U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents. Thomas said this category generally has “the maximum amount of protections” and “the maximum of benefits.” Much of EILS’s work has focused on naturalization, helping permanent residents pursue citizenship. But Thomas warned that even this process has become more complicated.
“There are also folks who are here, who have been here for decades and decades and decades who are applying for naturalization, as is their right,” Thomas said. “And so many hurdles are being placed in that space as well.”
The second bucket includes people with temporary status, such as students, workers, agricultural workers, Temporary Protected Status holders, DACA recipients, and people connected to humanitarian parole programs. Thomas said these statuses are limited because they allow someone to be in the country for a “prescribed time and prescribed purpose.”
That creates instability when programs are ended, not renewed, or changed. Thomas explained that work authorization is tied to the underlying immigration status. When the status disappears, the ability to legally work may disappear too. For families, that can mean lost income, deeper fear, and greater exposure to enforcement.
The third bucket includes people without current status. Some entered the country without status. Others had temporary status that expired. But Thomas strongly rejected language that labels these community members as “illegal.”
“For folks who are here without status, these folks are not illegal,” Thomas said. “Why? Because there is written language within our immigration law…there is a pathway to apply for status.”
She pointed to asylum as one example. “In our law still we have the right to seek asylum,” Thomas said, explaining that people fleeing persecution may have the right to request protection in the United States.
Immigration is not a simple question of whether someone “did it the right way.” The system is complex, politically vulnerable, and difficult to navigate without counsel.
“When we talk about immigrants, we are talking about these three buckets,” Thomas said. A person’s risk of enforcement depends on which bucket they fall into.
Thomas urged families to take three steps before an emergency happens.
First, families should know which bucket they are in. “You need to know what bucket you fall into and the associated risks,” Thomas said. If someone is without status, she said, they should seek an immigration screening.
Second, families should only work with reputable legal providers. Thomas warned that fear can push people toward bad advice, especially when someone is detained or desperate. “Get a legal consult from a reputable provider,” she said. Thomas also cautioned families not to rely on informal referrals or people promising quick fixes. “Do not do the word of mouth,” she said. “My cousin knows — don’t do it.”
Third, families should create a detention plan. A plan should include who to call, where documents are kept, who can care for children, and how to reach trusted legal support quickly. “Do the plan,” Thomas said. “Do the plan now.”
She also warned that leaving the country without legal guidance can create serious consequences. “Some people are like, ‘Okay, I’m just going to buy a plane ticket, leave,” Thomas said. “That has legal immigration consequences.”
The message from Thomas is clear: fear is real, but preparation matters. Families should know their status, seek reputable legal help, and build a plan before an emergency happens.
Beyond providing legal services—many of them free—EILS works to help families understand their situation, avoid fraud, and make informed decisions. Much of the organization’s work relies on resources that come primarily from donations. At this time of heightened uncertainty, EILS will host its “Hope for Immigrants” event on May 28 at the Esperanza Arts Center to raise funds. More information is available on the nonprofit’s website.