ROCHESTER, N.Y. — President Donald Trump’s executive orders on immigration during his first day back in office have sparked concern among a refugee and immigrant advocacy group in Rochester.

News10NBC spoke with Berka Mou, a leader at a local refugee resettlement service. As Trump returns to the Oval Office, he has enacted limitations on immigration and refugees, including a four-month suspension on refugee settlement.

“The invasion of our borders will have come to a halt, and all the illegal border trespassers will, in some form or another, be on their way back home,” Trump said.

Berka Mou, who immigrated from Morocco 35 years ago, is a language teacher at Spencerport High School. He also assists those seeking safety in the U.S. Mou said he worries about the impact of these policies.

“It’s scaring people,” Mou said. “Since maybe October or even November, people have been coming in droves to fill out applications for green cards. Refugees and asylum seekers are asking for help to get their cases taken care of before this new administration takes over.”

Mou is particularly concerned about the potential impact on refugees’ lives. “If all the people who applied for green cards might not get it, if he stops delivering green cards, there are going to be refugees. And once that status ends, they might be deported,” he said.

Another executive order aims to end birthright citizenship. Currently, the 14th Amendment of the Constitution guarantees citizenship to anyone born in the U.S. The executive order suggests that the amendment has been wrongly interpreted and the possible change would go into effect in 30 days. Mou spoke about the impact that ending birthright citizenship would have.

“A family just had a baby. They’re going to deport everybody and leave the baby here. What sense does it make?” Mou said. “She’s a month old. How do you leave that girl here and then send the rest of the family?”

The impact of these policies is already being felt. Reuters reports that over 1,600 Afghans cleared by the U.S., including minors and family members of active-duty military, are experiencing flight cancellations.

News10NBC reached out to the Monroe County GOP Chair for comment but has not yet received a response.

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