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President Trump's New Tariffs Go Into Effect Tuesday; President Trump Hits Mexico, Canada and China With Tariffs; China Will Take Corresponding Countermeasures In Response To Tariffs; China Says It Will File Complaint With WTO Over Tariffs; Canada Announces "Far- Reaching" Retaliatory Tariffs On American Goods; Mexican President Announces Retaliatory Tariffs On U.S.; President's Allies Making Calls To Shore Up Support For Tulsi Gabbard; Seven Dead, Including One On The Ground, After Medevac Jet Crashes In Philadelphia; Investigators Give Initial Findings From Passenger Jet's Black Box. EPA Crews Remove Hazardous Waste From Eaton Fire Burn Zone; FDA Approves New Non-Opioid Painkiller; Some Migrants Avoiding Public Places Due To Fear Of Deportation; Awaiting Punxsutawney Phil To Make His Prediction; Powerful Atmospheric River Slams The West With Heavy Rain. Aired 6-7a ET
Aired February 02, 2025 - 06:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[06:00:40]
VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. Welcome to CNN THIS MORNING. It is Sunday, February 2nd. I'm Victor Blackwell.
AMARA WALKER, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, everyone. I'm Amara Walker. And here's what we're working on for you this morning.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRIME MINISTER JUSTIN TRUDEAU, CANADA: Tariffs against Canada will put your jobs at risk.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WALKER: A stark message to America from Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau after President Donald Trump signed steep tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China. How the countries are retaliating and why they say Americans will be the ones really feeling the pinch.
BLACKWELL: Plus, new information about the final moments before the deadly midair collision in Washington, D.C. What the plane's black boxes are now revealing.
WALKER: And a medical breakthrough 25 years in the making. We are going in-depth on the new potent painkiller the FDA says could be a game changer in the fight against opioid addiction in America.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So, some of these families that you visit haven't left their homes since Trump took office?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLACKWELL: And how one volunteer is helping migrant families in Chicago who are afraid to leave their homes because of ICE raids.
President Donald Trump's slew of new tariffs go into effect Tuesday. And the United States' biggest trade partners are already fighting back. China is promising countermeasures. Both Mexico and Canada plan retaliatory levies of their own.
Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau says the tariffs set back decades of history of both countries working together.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUDEAU: They will violate the free trade agreement that the president and I, along with our Mexican partner, negotiated and signed a few years ago. But it doesn't have to be this way.
As President John F. Kennedy said many years ago, geography has made us neighbors. History has made us friends. Economics has made us partners. And necessity has made us allies.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLACKWELL: President Trump declared a national economic emergency to put the tariffs in place. Twenty-five percent on border nations and additional 10 percent on China. Now, I say additional because the president already put tariffs on certain Chinese made goods during his first term that President Biden kept in place.
WALKER: Now, these tariffs also close a loophole that allowed shipments under $800 to come into the U.S. tax free. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer warns that this could start a trade war, which will only hurt family budgets here at home. He said in a statement, quote, "If these tariffs go into full effect, they will raise prices for everything from groceries, to cars, to gas."
CNN's Alayna Treene explains how these tariffs will work.
ALAYNA TREENE, CNN REPORTER: Well, President Donald Trump made good on a long-held campaign promise on Saturday when he signed different executive orders imposing sweeping tariffs on three different countries. He imposed 25 percent tariffs on all goods coming in from both Canada and Mexico, and then also a 10 percent tariff on China.
Now. there is one exception the tariffs on Canada. He only imposed a lower 10 percent tariff on Canadian energy. But look, this had been a pillar of Donald Trump's economic policy, one that he touted heavily, especially in the final weeks of the election.
But tariffs are also something that he believes he used effectively during his first term. And, you know, just to break down a little bit of the details in these different orders, one key thing is that they do include a retaliation clause, essentially saying that if other countries like Canada and Mexico or China try to respond with their own tariffs, the president may seek and choose to raise this percentage. The percentage of these tariffs even higher.
He also explained that the real reason behind this is not necessarily a trade policy but that he believes that the countries, particularly our northern and southern borders, are not doing enough to stem the flow of undocumented migrants and drugs coming into the United States. This is one line that was in the White House fact sheet that was circulated on Saturday.
It read, quote, "This tariff will remain in effect until such time as drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all illegal aliens stop this invasion of our country."
Now, one thing to keep in mind as well is the impact that these tariffs could have on American consumers.
[06:05:05]
It's actually something that the president acknowledged on Friday. He said that he believed there could be some sort of temporary impact on Americans' wallets. However, he believed that they would be patient and kind of seeing the tariffs through. Unclear if that's going to happen, but what is clear is that this is likely to set off a broader trade war with these other countries, one which impact we still do not know.
Alayna Treene, CNN, West Palm Beach, Florida.
WALKER: All right. Alayna Treene, thank you. Now, China already promised countermeasures, saying the tariffs only undermine work in both countries to combat narcotics. And they voiced what has long been the common understanding in economic circles worldwide that in a trade war, there are no winners.
BLACKWELL: Sorry about that. China is also taking a complaint to the World Trade Organization. CNN's Marc Stewart joins us live from Beijing. So, does it look like there is any room for negotiation?
MARC STEWART, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Victor, I think that China certainly hopes there is room for negotiation. You know, it could follow suit with Mexico and Canada and implement tariffs in retaliation, like it did during the first Trump White House. But this is a much different situation.
The Chinese economy right now is not as strong as it was during the first Trump White House. And as someone who lives here in China, I can tell you that it's still dealing with the aftermath of housing crisis. It's tough to get people to spend money. So, additional tariffs could create a really tricky situation.
In addition, let's not forget China is dealing with trade issues involving many parts of Europe over cheap electric vehicles, over solar panels, cheap goods that China has been producing that flood the market in Europe. And so, that is creating a lot of tension there.
So, for those reasons it may opt for negotiation or at least hope that negotiation is on the table. But this does not mean that China is powerless. Think about in the United States, some of the everyday products you use -- we're talking about things like hair dryers, we're talking about electronics, we're talking about clothing, furniture.
China is known as the world's factory. It produces so many items that are used in the United States. So, perhaps it could take its existing supply chain and leverage it to its advantage and remind the United States just how much comes from China. We'll have to see.
These remarks from China, interestingly, are coming during the Chinese New Year celebration. Things are pretty much shut down here in Beijing. Early next week is when government offices reopen. Victor and Amara, perhaps we'll get a look at the Chinese playbook even further. But for the moment, China is keeping its future plans very close to the vest.
BLACKWELL: All right. Marc Stewart for us in Beijing. Thank you, Marc. Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau says that Canada's retaliatory tariffs will be, quote, "far-reaching." Shortly after President Trump's announcement, Trudeau announced tariffs against $155 billion worth of American goods.
WALKER: Yes. At a news conference announcing the measures, he spoke directly to the American people about the impact this would have on all of our lives.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUDEAU: This is a choice that, yes, will harm Canadians. But beyond that, it will have real consequences for you, the American people.
As I have consistently said, tariffs against Canada will put your jobs at risk, potentially shutting down American auto assembly plants and other manufacturing facilities. They will raise costs for you, including food at the grocery stores and gas at the pump.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WALKER: Here's CNN's Paula Newton with more on Canada's response.
PAULA NEWTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Victor, Amara, look, this is a country that feels targeted. In fact, a country scorned, you could even say. The reaction here has been emotional, visceral, but also very clear headed about how devastating this could actually be for the Canadian economy.
Now, remember, this is a trade agreement that President Trump signed himself with the prime minister, Justin Trudeau. I want you to hear now from Trudeau and his reaction.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUDEAU: I don't think there's a lot of Americans who wake up in the morning saying, oh, damn Canada. Oh, we should really go after Canada.
We're there as friends, as partners. We always have been. We always will be. Yes, we've had our differences in the past, but we've always found a way to get past them.
[06:10:04]
As I've said before, if President Trump wants to usher in a new golden age for the United States, the better path is to partner with Canada, not to punish us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NEWTON: That was a clear message to Americans that there will be retaliation. About 155 billion Canadian dollars in total. A little bit of that 30 billion coming on Tuesday. The bulk of it coming in three weeks.
What will be affected? The list here, things like juice, beer, wine, bourbon, fruit juice, vegetables, perfume, clothing, shoes, furniture. You get the picture. All of those things, those imports from Canada would now be 25 percent more expensive for Americans.
I mean, look, this is a complete reordering of trade relationships, not just here in Canada and Mexico, but obviously allies around the world looking at this and also watching closely to see what the Trump administration does next, because Donald Trump has said that if Canada retaliates, he will as well. Victor, Amara.
WALKER: Paula Newton, thank you. Now, Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum says her country will implement retaliatory measures on the U.S. following President Trump's announcement. Sheinbaum was not specific, though, on exactly what they would be, but said they will include tariff and non-tariff measures.
BLACKWELL: Mexico is the US's largest trading partner, exported $467 billion worth of goods to the U.S. last year. In a defiant statement yesterday, Sheinbaum said that she does not want confrontation with the U.S., but she will act to protect Mexico's interests.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRESIDENT CLAUDIA SHEINBAUM, MEXICO (through translator): When we negotiate with other nations, when we talk with other nations, always with our heads held high, never bowing our heads. We are equal with all the nations of the world. Mexico is free, independent, and a sovereign country, and that is in the way which we defend Mexicans and our homeland.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLACKWELL: In announcing the tariffs, the White House accused Mexico's government of providing a safe haven to drug cartels. The Mexican government has denied that claim.
Joining me now is "New York Times" congressional reporter Luke Broadwater. Luke, good morning to you. You're a congressional reporter. Let's start with Congress.
So, the president is firmly committed to these sanctions, these tariffs, I should say. U.S. Chamber of Commerce denounced the tariffs. American Petroleum Institute says they want no part -- no parts of the tariffs. Huge farming industry company says it hurts farms. Leaders in the electricity industry say it's a bad idea.
Big business does not like this. So, what position does this put those typically business friendly, lower corporate taxes, eliminate regulations, Republicans on Capitol Hill who are expected to go out and sell these sanctions -- these tariffs, I should say?
LUKE BROADWATER, CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT, THE NEW YORK TIMES: Well, it's certainly a difficult position for those members of the Republican Party who are consider themselves part of the traditionalist wing of the party. You know, that party has always been in favor of free trade and, you know, the free exchange of goods across borders as quickly as possible, as efficiently as possible.
The issue, though, is Donald Trump ran on this agenda. And that wing of the Republican Party, that traditional wing, is smaller and smaller and smaller. Trump said he would impose sweeping tariffs. He said that repeatedly. He ran on that and he won on that.
And so, I don't see a lot of Republicans, even if they disagree with these tariffs, really fighting him over them. You know, what we've seen from Republicans in Congress is that when Donald Trump says something, they fall in line behind him with a few -- with a few exceptions.
But -- so, I do not expect, you know, congressional Republicans this week to, you know, denounce Trump robustly over and over again. They may say a few critical things, but I doubt they will be very vociferous in their condemnations.
BLACKWELL: So, let's talk about the goal. The president says the purpose of the tariffs, as Alayna Treene reminded us at the top of the show, is not related to any trade deficit or any economic policy, but because the president says the countries are not doing enough to stop the flow of migrants, to stop the flow of Fentanyl across the border.
What is a definition of a win? Is it a raw number of migrants across the border? Is it a policy change from these countries? When does this administration know that it has won?
BROADWATER: Yes, I mean, that's the big question. The administration was very vague in saying what the threshold was here is. Yes. Are we talking about, you know, 1,000 illegal crossings a week or a month?
[06:15:06]
Who knows what -- who knows? They haven't put a number on anything. What I will say is, if you watch Donald Trump's career, he often takes a maximalist position early on in what he -- what he views as a negotiation. So, he'll say -- he'll do something very outrageous at first to get the person's attention and knock them off balance. And then perhaps he can be brought down or there can be some sort of negotiation later on. But the point of the negotiation has moved very far in what he sees as his direction. So, maybe this is all just a threat and they can negotiate it. That's a possibility.
But I do think we need to view this exactly as what he said it is, and that is his agenda is to impose these tariffs. He thinks they protect American jobs. He thinks he protects the American worker doing this, the forgotten man he often talks about.
And so, for the other countries' end it's not really clear how they can stop them. And so, I think it's like -- most likely we'll see a trade war with escalating tariffs on both sides of the border.
BLACKWELL: The president's nominee for director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard -- we watched her confirmation hearing this week. Some sharp questions, some defiant answers. She'll be back on Capitol Hill to have some conversations.
What's the consensus, if there is one? Did the confirmation hearings help or hurt her chances?
BROADWATER: Yes. Tulsi Gabbard is probably the most endangered of Donald Trump's remaining nominees. Obviously, the Senate stood up to Matt Gaetz and he was pushed aside. But other than that, he's been able to get everyone through.
Tulsi Gabbard probably has, you know, a handful of no votes right now, but does she have four no votes? That's the big question. That's the number she can't have.
I don't think she did herself a ton of favors. She didn't condemn Edward Snowden the way Republican senators wanted her to. She did reverse her stance on Section 702 of FISA, which a lot of Republican senators like to hear.
But there were a lot of questions coming out of that hearing. I still think there's a bunch of people in the middle that, you know, may not be willing to vote for her. That said, Tom Cotton did come on board with her, which is a big vote in her favor.
So, it's really up in the air right now. I do think she's in danger. I wouldn't be surprised if they pulled her. That said, who would be that fourth senator to step up and say, I oppose Tulsi Gabbard? We haven't seen who that person is yet.
BLACKWELL: All right. Luke Broadwater, thanks so much.
WALKER: Still to come, investigators are still searching for a medevac jet's cockpit voice recorder as they try to piece together what may have led to the deadly crash in Philadelphia. The latest on the investigation is next.
Also, the cleanup after the deadly wildfires in California. We're going to take a look at the difficult and painstaking path ahead. And it's Groundhog Day. Will Punxsutawney Phil predicts six more weeks of bitter cold weather or an early spring? We have your forecast ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[06:23:19]
WALKER: Seven people are now confirmed dead after a medevac jet crashed into a Philadelphia neighborhood Friday. The jet was carrying six people, including a child patient and her mother, when it crashed, killing everyone on board and at least one additional person on the ground.
BLACKWELL: At least 19 other people were injured in the crash. And city officials say, it's possible the number of casualties could increase.
Investigators are still trying to locate the plane's cockpit voice recorder as they search the wide debris field to piece together what led to that crash.
We're also learning new details in the fatal mid-air collision between an American Airlines passenger jet and a Black Hawk helicopter over Washington, D.C., that killed 67 people.
WALKER: Investigators have released preliminary findings from the plane's black boxes, with the data showing the pilots may have tried to pull up the jet's nose within seconds of colliding with the helicopter. CNN's Brian Todd has more.
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Victor and Amara, the latest NTSB briefing brought some dramatic details from Todd Inman of the NTSB, who said that at the time of the collision that the passenger plane, the American Airlines regional jet, was at 325 feet above the ground, plus or minus about 25 feet.
And what was really notable about his account there was that he indicated he was asked if the passenger plane tried to pull up at all. He said they did detect an increase in the pitch of the plane. So, there was a change in the pitch of the plane, indicating that the pilot may have tried to maneuver the nose of the plane very quickly at the very last second. But of course, that was not enough to evade the collision.
Also, Todd Inman of the NTSB gave a very dramatic timeline of events. Basically, what it all meant was that all of this unfolded in a matter of just a few horrifying seconds.
[06:25:06]
Basically, at 8:47:39 on Wednesday evening, the control tower asked the helicopter pilot if the passenger plane was in sight. Just a few seconds later, they asked the helicopter pilot to go behind the passenger plane. He said at 8:47:58, they heard a verbal reaction from the crew of the -- of the passenger plane. And one second later they heard the sounds of the impact.
So, all of this unfolding in just a few seconds. And again, the headline of the news conference was that Todd Inman of the NTSB indicated that the crew of the passenger plane may very well have tried some kind of an evasive maneuver at the very last second before the collision. Victor, Amara.
WALKER: All right. Brian Todd, thank you. And Anderson Cooper takes a deeper look into the safety of our skies. "THE WHOLE STORY WITH ANDERSON COOPER" airs tonight at 7:00 p.m. eastern, right here on CNN.
BLACKWELL: Crews in hazmat suits are digging through potential hazardous waste that the California wildfires have left behind. The common household items, they say, could have now become toxic. That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[06:30:45]
VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR: Right now, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is on his way to Washington, D.C. He'll meet with President Trump's Middle East envoy tomorrow and then the President himself on Tuesday to discuss the Gaza ceasefire and the second phase of negotiations and the hostage release deal.
Qatar, Egypt and the U.S. have been mediating these talks between Israel and Hamas and resulted in the current six-week hostage ceasefire agreement.
The U.S. Agency for International Development's website, also known as USAID, went offline yesterday as layoffs, furloughs and aid shutdowns continue.
The disruptions follow President Trump's freeze on foreign assistance. The Democrats warn Trump may try to dissolve the agency and fold it into the State Department. That's a move they say would be illegal.
President Trump and Republicans argue that much of foreign aid is wasteful. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the agency's programs are under review but has not confirmed plans to eliminate the agency.
And tomorrow marks two years since the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, which sent more than a million pounds of toxic chemicals into the air.
Vice President JD Vance and EPA Director Lee Zeldin will visit the area to commemorate the disaster. Last week, the village of East Palestine and Norfolk Southern announced a $22 million settlement resulting or rather resolving all of the village's claims from the incident.
AMARA WALKER, CNN ANCHOR: This morning with the Palisades and Eaton wildfires fully contained, cleanup efforts are now underway.
Closing a chapter on historic blazes that wiped out entire neighborhoods and forced mass evacuations.
CNN's Julia Vargas Jones joined EPA crews in Altadena as they work to remove the dangerous waste left behind by the fires.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JULIA VARGAS JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Sifting through Altadena's ashes, what were once homes now piles of toxic waste.
The cleanup after the deadly Eaton fires just beginning.
HARRY ALLEN, ON-SCENE COORDINATOR, EPA: So, we put a white axe to mark that we've checked it and it doesn't have anything dangerous in it
JONES (voice-over): Weeks after flames decimated thousands of homes and businesses, crews in hazmat suits roamed the ruins.
The Environmental Protection Agency carrying out what they call phase one, a painstaking process, removing all that is hazardous in the fire's aftermath.
ALLEN: They're common goods from your house, paints from your shop. They may be oils from your garage, propane from your grill. These are the kinds of materials we're looking for and we'll remove if they haven't been burned.
JONES (voice-over): Harry Allen has been with the EPA for more than 20 years and helped in the recovery after major wildfires.
ALLEN: Appa Sonoma, Woolsey Fire here in L.A., Lahaina. Yes, this one is larger than those.
JONES (voice-over): But this time around, another danger lurking amidst the rubble, partially damaged batteries.
ALLEN: Inside that battery, it can get hot and the gas can ignite and cause a fire.
JONES: Just on its own?
ALLEN: On its own. And if you watch videos of this, they look like little Roman candles if you're familiar with that firework. And the fire comes out like a jet from the battery and it can be very harmful.
JONES (voice-over): Once EPA crews remove these dangerous items and dispose of them safely, phase one is complete.
JONES: What happens after that?
ALLEN: Once that phase one is fully completed, phase two can start, which is either public or private contractors will come in and remove the debris from each property.
JONES (voice-over): The scope of the disaster and the magnitude of the work ahead now coming into focus.
On these blocks, gas and power just starting to come back online. Beyond them, thousand more residences await
JONES: How long to complete all of the Eaton Fire area? I mean, this is the whole community.
ALLEN: We don't know how long it's going to take, but we've gotten a lot of pressures and direction to complete the work faster than we normally would. And so, we're ramping up our staffing to try to meet those goals
JONES (voice-over): For those displaced and who are ready to start rebuilding, those goals can't come soon enough.
Julia Vargas Jones, CNN, Altadena.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[06:35:00]
WALKER: The FDA has approved the first non-opioid pain drug in more than two decades. How this can help provide patients with alternative treatment options.
That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WALKER: A new none opioid pain killer has been signed off by the FDA for the first time in 25 years. The drug will be sold under the brand name Journavx and it could be a game changer in pain management. It is a 50-milligram prescription pill with a price tag of $15.50 per pill, significantly higher than comparable opioids, but it is designed to eliminate the risk of addiction and overdose associated with opioids.
[06:40:20]
Dr. Jeanmarie Perrone, a professor of emergency medicine at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital is joining us now.
Doctor, really appreciate your time this morning.
First off, big picture, I mean, what could this potentially mean then for the opioid crisis we've seen around our country?
JEANMARIE PERRONE, PROFESSOR OF EMERGENCY MEDICINE, UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA HOSPITAL: Well, it's really important that we have alternative pain medications that are not opioids. But that doesn't mean that these medications need to be used in everyone. We still have lower potency pain medications that are not opioids that are very effective like acetaminophen and ibuprofen or Tylenol and Motrin.
So, this fits a different class where we need strong pain medicines for severe pain such as postoperative or patients who are experiencing fractures or trauma.
WALKER: Got it. OK. I have to say, I was fascinated just reading about how this medicine was discovered because researchers they studied a family of firewalkers in Pakistan, you know, people who could walk over hot coals without feeling any pain. And they learned that they lacked a gene allowing pain signals to fire in their skin basically. Can you explain how this is key and how Journavx works differently than opioids? Like, what is the difference between this non-opioid drug versus opioids and how they actually work in preventing the feeling of pain?
PERRONE: Yes, that's a really fascinating story and illustrates the mechanism really well. So in this group, my understanding in this family is that these receptors for pain or the nerve cells that work to trigger pain signals in the body, in that family they actually lack that gene. So, they targeted that same receptor for this pain medication, which is different than opioids which block your perceptions of pain in your brain.
In other words, you just don't care. You still have pain, it fires the same way, but your brain regions that perceive pain don't, you know, you have a slightly different sensation of pain. So these actually block the transmission of nerve signals.
WALKER: You touched on this a moment ago about the best candidates for this drug. Then what types of pain would this drug best treat then?
PERRONE: Well, it was studied in post-operative pain patients, which is a good cohort because after surgery of course, there's a lot of new trauma to the body and that often requires stronger pain relief. Although we've come up with regimens where we alternate Tylenol and Motrin, we also use nerve blocks that can last a day or two if, you know, you have a shoulder surgery or a knee replacement.
But some people continue to have post-operative pain in those first 24 to 48 hours. And so, this might be a good role for either opioids, which might be what we use currently, or this new pain receptor agonist.
WALKER: And then why does this drug then, I guess, lower the risk of addiction or dependence?
PERRONE: It seems that these nerve fibers that are blocked by, or the perception of painful nerve signals that doesn't actually get into the brain, that actually works more outside of the brain. Opioids certainly get into the brain and are very active in parts of our brain, including the pleasure center.
So not having that pathway activated definitely decreases the risk that this drug has a problem with dependence. So that is good news.
WALKER: Yes. It sounds like it could be a great and safer alternative to some opioid medicines.
Dr. Jeanmarie Perrone, good to have you. Thank you.
BLACKWELL: Still to come, some migrant families are afraid to leave their homes because of the ICE raids in their cities. We'll meet some of the volunteers supporting their basic needs amid this immigration crackdown.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) [06:48:41]
BLACKWELL: The Trump administration is preparing to target migrants who came to the U.S. under a program put in place during the Biden administration. A source tells CNN that the humanitarian parole program allowed more than half a million migrants from Venezuela, Nicaragua, Haiti, and Cuba to enter the U.S. on a temporary basis, but with certain requirements
WALKER: Now, while President Trump is making good on his promise to deport undocumented migrants, volunteers across the country are working to make sure those hiding from law enforcement are getting fed.
CNN correspondent Rosa Flores has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): What might appear to be a simple case of extreme stockpiling I want to go drop this off, is actually the preamble to an emotional day.
FLORES: Sam, first of all, thank you so much for doing this.
FLORES (voice-over): Sam is not her real name. She asked CNN not to reveal her identity for fear of retaliation.
FLORES: Could you tell us where we're going?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: To an apartment to drop off groceries for a mother and three children. They only have enough groceries for the day and then after that it is bare cabinets, empty fridge
FLORES (voice-over): She volunteers to deliver groceries to undocumented migrant families, many seeking asylum in the Chicago area, who have stopped going to work, to school and to the store for fear of deportation.
[06:50:03]
Every delivery costs $80 to $100. Sam says she has made up to 15 deliveries since Trump took office.
FLORES: So, some of these families that you visit haven't left their homes since Trump took office?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
FLORES: So, since Inauguration Day?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
FLORES (voice-over): Sam says her non-profit has received dozens of requests from migrant families since the ICE enforcement blitz started. Chicago police say more than 100 people have been arrested in the metro area. On this day, Sam's meeting a Venezuelan mom of three teens.
FLORES: So, we're pretty close. What's usually your plan?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So usually, I'll notify them on WhatsApp that I'm outside.
FLORES: What touches your heart the most?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The fact that our society is feeding into this propaganda that it is criminals. And yet what I'm seeing is that it's families.
FLORES (voice-over): Families like hers, she says. Sam's mom is Mexican-American. Her dad is indigenous. She says she sees herself in the children of the mothers she serves.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It is very emotional work. If we're not stepping up, nobody is feeding these families.
FLORES (voice-over): The Venezuelan mom was waiting outside.
FLORES: She doesn't want us to use her real name.
FLORES (voice-over): She arrived in the U.S. 17 months ago seeking asylum.
FLORES: So, you've been in your apartment for two weeks.
(FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
FLORES: Do you send your children to school?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No. No.
(FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
FLORES: Why don't (INAUDIBLE).
(FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
FLORES: Because of the fear.
(FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: With this level of fear --
FLORES (voice-over): Chicago's police superintendent acknowledged the fear in immigrant communities could impact public safety.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm pretty sure that there are some people who have not stepped up and reported a crime that may have been committed against them out of fear.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's heartbreaking.
FLORES (voice-over): Sam says it's not just undocumented moms who are in fear for their children
FLORES: What did you tell your son to say to ICE?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If he was questioned by ICE, I told him to say I'm an American citizen. Please call my mom.
FLORES (voice-over): She and her 10-year-old son --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We'll be back in a little bit.
FLORES (voice-over): -- are both U.S. citizens.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It breaks my heart.
FLORES (voice-over): Rosa Flores, CNN, Chicago.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WALKER: Rosa Flores, thank you for that.
And coming up, we will see a few more -- will we see a few more weeks of winter or an early spring? In a few minutes, Punxsutawney Phil will let us know.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[06:56:51]
WALKER: We are missing out. It is Groundhog Day and a lot of people have gathered because in about 30 minutes in Punxsutawney, Punxsutawney Phil, will predict whether winter will last longer or if spring will arrive early.
BLACKWELL: So Phil and his friends in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, have been making these seasonal predictions since 1887. Specifically, winter ends -- scientifically I should say, winter ends on the spring equinox, March 19th.
But Mother Nature does not always follow the timetable. Neither does Phil.
Now, we've been watching this during the commercial break.
And --
WALKER: Six or seven, they're having a good time.
BLACKWELL: There's a lot of jumping, I guess because it's cold. There was a gentleman, I think he was supposed to be a groundhog, but it was really a Scooby-Doo costume.
WALKER: Oh.
BLACKWELL: With like a squirrel face. There he is. No, that's not him.
WALKER: We all are.
BLACKWELL: Squirrel face on the top. I've always wanted to go to this.
WALKER: Do you still want to go?
BLACKWELL: You know, I really wanted to go because of the guys in the top hats and the beverages in the morning.
WALKER: Well, all right this gentleman looks like he'll change into a top hat soon.
BLACKWELL: Oh, yes, you know, he's probably a member of the official club. I still might go.
WALKER: The inner circle, as they're called.
BLACKWELL: Yes.
WALKER: I want whatever caffeine they've had. That's for sure.
BLACKWELL: I mean, you have to jump and stay active at those temperatures.
WALKER: Yes.
BLACKWELL: But, yes, I think it's still on the list. Not as high, but it still is on the list now that I've watched more of it.
WALKER: All right, they've got good music. The (INAUDIBLE).
BLACKWELL: And Allison has been kind enough today to wear her groundhog.
WALKER: She always dresses for the occasion.
BLACKWELL: Here is.
ALLISON CHINCHAR, CNN METEOROLOGIST (on-camera): We've got one that says spring, one that says winter --
WALKER: So --
CHINCHAR (on-camera): -- just in case.
WALKER: -- which one do you prefer?
CHINCHAR (on-camera): I like them both.
BLACKWELL: OK --
CHINCHAR (on-camera): I mean --
BLACKWELL: -- so you're not going to commit.
WALKER: She's not going to make (INAUDIBLE).
BLACKWELL: Can we just talk about, as much fun as that is, Punxsutawney has a terrible record.
CHINCHAR (on-camera): Oh, he really does. Yes.
BLACKWELL: I mean, Phil --
CHINCHAR (on-camera): I mean, his --
BLACKWELL: -- has a terrible record.
CHINCHAR (on-camera): -- cute. But, yes, in the last 10 years, his accuracy is only about 30 percent.
WALKER: OK, make your prediction.
CHINCHAR (on-camera): So --
WALKER: I bet your accuracy is better.
CHINCHAR (on-camera): I predict that regardless of what happens, spring will happen on March 20th. Regardless.
WALKER: Yes.
CHINCHAR (on-camera): From a scientific standpoint.
BLACKWELL: All right, so what are we looking at now, though?
CHINCHAR (on-camera): We are still looking at some cold temperatures, not just for Phyllis, but really out in the west. And that's transitioning into some very heavy snow, especially in those higher elevations.
Now, in the lower valleys, you're also looking at quite a lot of rain, especially in northern and central California. You can see here, again, this is the radar. You've got a lot of those bands already starting to move in. We had rain and snow yesterday.
Now, when we talk about that snow, some of these areas, we are going to measure it in feet. We're talking two, three, even four feet of snow once all of these waves are finally through. Also keep in mind, too, it's going to be quite windy. Some of these areas, you're looking at wind gusts up around 40, even 50 miles per hour. So, it's taking that snow and blowing it around in some of these spots, and that could lead to very poor visibility.
Now, when we talk about rain, this is a multi-day event. You have multiple atmospheric rivers that are going to come through. So today, tomorrow, and even going into the middle portion of the upcoming week, you've got several days where you're looking at excessive rainfall. The only difference between these days is you'll start to notice it begins to shift southward.
So, then it starts to become more of an issue for southern California by the time we get to Tuesday and Wednesday.
[07:00:02]
In terms of the atmospheric river, level twos, level threes, those are mostly beneficial, but you do sometimes have some possible hazards mixed in. This time, we're talking about a level four and that's really going to be around the Bay Area, maybe up through Fort Bragg. That level four is still somewhat beneficial, but it is going to have some hazards and those hazards include incredibly heavy rainfall. Some of these areas could end up getting six to 10 inches of rain.
BLACKWELL: All right. Thank you.
Next hour of "CNN This Morning," starts right now.