As President-elect Donald Trump moves forward with his preparations to take office again in January, his latest cabinet appointments have sparked significant concern among advocates within a host of different sectors. 

Among the most contentious of these picks was Matt Gaetz, who was the subject of a federal sex crimes probe and was awaiting a report from the House Ethics Committee, for attorney general; Gaetz has since withdrawn his name from consideration. Other picks include Stephen Miller, a key architect of Trump’s previous hardline immigration policies, as deputy chief of staff for policy; and Tom Homan, former acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), as border czar. 

Trump’s picks have raised alarms over the future of immigrant rights. At the same time, LGBTQIA+ advocates and critics from the labor and environmental sectors are sounding the alarm about the broader implications for marginalized communities and the working class.

Adriana Rivera, the communications director for Florida Immigrant Coalition (FLIC), a prominent immigration advocacy organization, issued a stark warning about the potential consequences of Trump’s immigration policies under a second term. Rivera emphasized that these appointments signal a renewed focus on mass deportations and aggressive enforcement actions that could target vulnerable populations, including long-settled immigrants and individuals with legal status.

“Donald Trump’s second term on immigration will cause incalculable damage to the nation—economically and morally,” Rivera said in an email statement to Prism. “The more people realize the implications of Trump’s plans, the more opposition will build and the more Americans will reject Trump’s chaotic agenda.”

Rivera’s concerns are compounded by the appointments of Miller and Homan, both of whom were instrumental in shaping Trump’s previous immigration policies, including the controversial family separation practices and efforts to dismantle protections for undocumented immigrants. Rivera highlighted the administration’s focus on making as many people as possible “deportable,” including Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, and asylum-seekers, alongside the growing threats of denaturalization for U.S. citizens.

“This is a deeply troubling, yet unsurprising, signal of what’s to come,” Rivera said.

Meanwhile, LGBTQIA+ advocates warned of the broader implications of these cabinet picks, particularly in light of their potential impact on health care access and protections for queer and trans people. Liana Douillet Guzmán, CEO of FOLX Health, an organization dedicated to providing affirming and accessible care to LGBTQIA+ individuals nationwide, emphasized the importance of cabinet decisions on the well-being of marginalized communities.

“Decisions made at the highest levels of government, including cabinet appointments, have significant ripple effects on access to healthcare, protections for queer and trans people, and the overall safety of our communities,” Guzmán said. “As advocates, we are closely watching these developments and working alongside our partners to ensure that no matter the political climate, LGBTQIA+ individuals receive the care, respect, and rights they deserve.”

FOLX Health, which serves individuals who mainstream systems have historically underserved, is committed to standing firm in the face of these challenges, Guzmán said. 

“We encourage leaders to prioritize equity, inclusion, and compassion in their policymaking, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to serve as a safe haven for our community,” Guzmán said.

As Trump’s 2024 campaign continues to shape the national conversation on immigration, LGBTQIA+ rights, and health care, advocates are preparing for the potential ripple effects that these cabinet picks may have on vulnerable populations. Rivera and Guzmán stressed the importance of remaining vigilant and ensuring that marginalized communities are protected regardless of the political landscape.

With both immigrant and LGBTQIA+ communities at the forefront of political debates, the stakes for the future of these groups are higher than ever. Advocates across the country are determined to push back against policies they view as harmful and to ensure that their communities receive the care and protections they deserve.

Jonathan Bix, executive director of the movement-building group For the Many, critiqued Trump’s broader cabinet choices as a continuation of policies that benefit the wealthy at the expense of working-class Americans.

“Trump’s cabinet picks illustrate what we already knew: He does not care about everyday people and has no intention of pursuing policies that will meaningfully improve our lives,” Bix said. “He’s prioritized filling his cabinet with unqualified loyalists who won’t question or challenge him as he enforces a dangerous, spiteful agenda—one that will further enrich billionaires and corporations at the expense of the working class and the planet.”

Bix pointed to the troubling nature of Trump’s selections, including anti-vaxxer Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, alleged child sex offender Gaetz to head the Department of Justice, and fossil-fuel booster Lee Zeldin to run the Environmental Protection Agency.

“Each of Trump’s selections so far has unveiled his contempt for the many, many Americans who are struggling right now,” Bix said. “That’s not to mention the people he already openly antagonizes—namely immigrants, women, and queer and trans people—who will be targets of his next administration.” 

The potential rollback of labor, housing, and environmental protections would leave working-class Americans further behind while natural disasters worsen with the climate crisis, Bix said.

“The only way to combat the damage they could do is to continue to build power together, no matter what or who tries to get in the way,” Bix said.