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Immigrants say they're anxious and nervous about Trump's potential immigration policies

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TULSA --  The illegal immigration debate took center stage during the latest election.

President-elect Donald Trump announced he's taking a tougher stance on illegal immigrants.

"It's something people are concerned about in the community and very skeptical and fearful," said Ivan Godinez.

It's a complex issue some might see as black and white-- but Mexican immigrant Ivan Godinez says he's among those stories in the gray area.

"I came with my mom at 14 we crossed the desert somewhere in Arizona and we walked for an entire night," he said.

Trump's website lays out his immigration plan in black and white.

According to the site, his Including a promise to "immediately terminate President Obama’s two illegal executive amnesties."

That would include the 2012 order allowing Godinez to be protected from deportation.

"People have definitely been scared we've been getting a lot of phone calls," said Michael Abdoveis, an immigration attorney for Catholic Charities of Tulsa.

At Catholic Charities, a staff of four immigration attorneys are in a holding pattern, unsure exactly how to advise their clients on some issues.

'We can't really give out legal advice based on speculating what Mr. Trump is going to do," Abdoveis said.

But legal experts say there is one piece of advice all illegal immigrants should know:

"Right now they can't be deported without going in front of an immigration judge first so no one is going to show up at your doorstep and you'll be out of the country the next day there's a process in place that's not going to change anytime soon," Abdoveis said.

Meanwhile immigrants like Godinez will wait while continuing to push for immigration law reform. Something he says to make it easier for those who want to come here legally. 

 

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