Is Donald Trump Making Immigrants Panic?

Donald Trump's views on immigrants has been one of the biggest stories of the 2016 presidential election campaign, and a recent statement issued by officials in Arlington, Virginia — just over the river from where the next president will take residence — indicates that he may be having a deep effect on the mindset of immigrants living in the United States.

The Arlington County Board issued a statement Wednesday reiterating "its commitment as a welcoming community that recognizes, respects and supports the contributions of all of its members," and "reaffirmed the long-standing County law enforcement policy against racial profiling which prohibits our deputies and officers from taking action based solely on that individual's race, ethnicity or national origin."

The out-of-the-blue statement was issued because the Arlington County Board has noticed "increased anxiety, fear and panic among our region's immigrant community."

The board said there were a number of factors that were causing this, including federal immigration enforcement actions, but it also pointed to the "more recent national debate sparked by the 2016 Presidential Election cycle" — a not-so-subtle reference to presumptive Republican presidential nominee Trump, who has made building a wall at the U.S.-Mexican border and deporting immigrants the central platform of his campaign.

Arlington Board Member Katie Cristol said in the statement that she was "disheartened to hear of the concerns in our immigrant community, and my colleagues and I wanted to make certain we restated our strong and unequivocal commitment to all of our residents."

The statement added that Arlington County will "continue to provide important services and programs" for the immigrant community.

"We will continue to work together with our community partners in our efforts to promote self-sufficiency and community belonging, creating a community where all Arlingtonians have the ability to reach their potential and thrive," the statement continued. "Arlington County has always been and will remain a community that welcomes and values all of its residents, treating them with human dignity and respect, regardless of immigration status. One of Arlington County’s core principles, and indeed one of our greatest strengths, is our diversity. The broad range of views, cultures, backgrounds and experiences among our residents adds to the richness of our lives and the strength of our community."

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