It’s safe to say the next four years will be a madhouse. For the 92 percent, the number of Black women who voted for Kamala Harris, hearing the final vote on our presidency was a heavy day—and a major letdown. Before the Oval Office seat could even cool from Biden’s departure, our now 47th president, Donald Trump, wasted no time getting comfortable and signing a series of heinous policies and executive orders, with some targeting immigration and immigrants.
Understanding the difference between a policy and an executive order will be crucial during Trump’s reign. According to the American Bar Association, a “policy” is a broad guideline or principle outlining a course of action, while an “executive order” is a specific, legally binding directive issued by the president to the executive branch, instructing them on how to implement a policy without needing Congressional approval. The mass deportations he initiated with an executive order on day one are already expanding, with new border restrictions, limited legal protections for those seeking citizenship, and heavy barriers against future refugees.
Immigrants make immense contributions to our nation. According to the Council on Foreign Relations, they make up 19% of the workforce, often filling jobs in natural resources, construction, maintenance, transportation, and material moving—especially among undocumented workers. Immigrants also represent 55% of startup companies, contributing an estimated $1 billion or more to the economy, making them vital to America’s recovery. Simply put, immigrants perform many of the jobs that Americans rarely think twice about: building homes, farming, transporting food, clothes, and even your Amazon order. And yet, they continue to be treated as unwelcome outsiders.
We may never fully understand why Trump and many Republicans harbor such animosity toward immigrants, but we know they will stop at nothing to remove them—often traumatically—from America, tearing families apart and targeting children. Despite his pretentious claims about cracking down on “criminal” immigrants, NBC News has reported that ICE raids are sweeping up law-abiding migrants and those with permits. Current raids have already affected communities in New Jersey, New York, Chicago, Colorado, Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Diego, Denver, Miami, Atlanta, Seattle, various cities in Texas, and even Puerto Rico. Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gaine is one of the few public officials standing up, stating his administration would not cooperate with the raids, citing, “People are scared.”
The methods being used in these deportations are horrifying, including eliminating court hearings and making arrests at schools. In a statement by Acting Secretary Benjamin Huffman, Homeland Security announced a policy change on Monday rescinding the “sensitive locations” policy, which had previously protected places like schools and churches. “Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest,” the statement read. This has left immigrant parents terrified to send their children to school, fearing raids. To make matters worse, on Tuesday, Trump signed an executive order aimed at ending the automatic right to citizenship for any child born in the U.S. However, 18 states, along with San Francisco and Washington, D.C., have already announced plans to sue, arguing that birthright citizenship under the 14th Amendment is “automatic” and cannot be altered by the president or Congress.
In addition to immigrant executive orders, Trump’s signature appears to be ongoing. As of 5 PM today, January 28, the president will temporarily freeze White House spending, which includes federal grants and loan disbursements. The decision can negatively affect college students, business owners, non profit organizations, undocumented immigrants, climate policies, diversity programs and abortion offices. While information is being filtered down the pipeline. While the official reasoning is unclear, according to CNN, the point of the pause is to, “exert control over federal funding.”
So, what now? We can’t afford to tune out or be misinformed, even though staying informed is exhausting. Whether you’re documented or undocumented, there are still communities and organizations offering support and resources. Programs like Global Refuge, Ayuda, and The National Immigration Law Center, can help individuals understand the changes taking place and how to keep their families safe. Additionally, allies can play a key role by speaking out at board meetings, donating to families via GoFundMe, or joining organizations like the American Friends Service Committee, which works to foster community and challenge social injustices. We’re only eight days into Trump’s second presidency, with over 1,450 days to go, but helping those in need is the most effective way for us to push through.