THE SHOES IMMIGRANTS FILL IN AMERICA

Donald Trump has currently been in office for 7 months now, and will be for 8 by the time this is published. As we all know, he has made drastic changes to policies and laws to “make America great again’’. A major change was the laws and regulations regarding immigration, which he made at the beginning of his second term. Examples of a few of the laws and regulations that Trump has enforced/ is harshly enforcing include, expanded expedited removal, Laken Riley Act, rescission of ‘’sensitive location’’ policy, increased ICE enforcement, imposition of financial penalties, and restrictions on legal pathways. As the months have passed, these laws and policies have had time to marinate, and it almost seems like we as a country are just starting to get used to them. Immigration in America has always, including at this point, seems like it will always be a very touchy subject, which is weird because America has never been a place where it has had to prosper without the very compelling need of immigrants. Here's the thing, throughout the history of America, America has heavily depended on the hard work and contributions of immigrants to build itself to where it is now. So I personally found it a bit ironic and disturbing as to the way President Trump is handling immigration in the U.S. As a president, it is important to know where your country comes from and to know from which its foundation was created. In this case, it’s the workforce, and in America, that sector is mainly made up of immigrants. I am not here to talk about the rights and wrongs of these laws and policies, but to shed light on the injustice of immigrants in America. The laws and policies listed above have and will continue to largely impact immigrants and the families of immigrants further into the years here in the U.S and outside the U.S. The specific laws and policies I want to focus on are the rescission of the sensitive location policy, increased ICE enforcement, and the restriction on legal pathways. These specific laws and policies, without a doubt, will have a very big effect on immigrants and on America as a whole.

DONALD TRUMP AND THE PANIC THAT SURROUNDS HIS POLICIES; GRAPHIC BY LILI NANDELL

The sensitive location policy refers to a policy where immigration action/ arrests are restricted in sensitive spaces such as schools, hospitals, and any place of worship. As not to deter people from emitting into those places, which the Biden administration administered in 2021. As for the rescission of the sensitive location policy, imposed in January 2025 by the Trump Administration, rescinded this policy. This means any form of immigration action/arrests may take place essentially anywhere, whether sensitive or not. Without the need of further explanation, anyone can tell how this can cause, has cause, and will continue to cause lots of issues regarding the safety of immigrants, and potentially even some Americans. I mention this because more often than not, this policy will also tie into the increased ICE enforcement. With these two policies and regulations, safety for immigrants will be a big issue in the upcoming months. Right off the bat, these policies and regulations aren’t cute; they threaten the safety and livelihood of everybody, but most importantly, the immigrants. Just because undocumented immigrants aren't citizens of the U.S doesn’t mean they deserve to have their human rights of safety stripped away from them. To add fuel to the fire, the Trump Administration has made it harder for people who are trying to get into America the legal way, a lot harder by placing restrictions on legal pathways. Now not only has Trump heavily enforced the regulation of undocumented immigrants in the U.S, but he is also then discouraging people from doing it the right way. One of Trump's arguments pertaining to his deportation laws is to keep potential immigration criminality at bay. Now this makes sense except when you factor in the fact that Native born Americans actually commit more crime than immigrants.

An article from the American Immigration Council stated, ‘’that immigrants have consistently had lower incarceration rates compared to U.S.-born individuals—a trend that has held true for 150 years’’. Furthermore, immigrants—including undocumented immigrants— have lower rates of felony arrests than U.S.-born individuals. According to the National Academy of Sciences, “undocumented immigrants are roughly half as likely to be arrested for violent and property crimes than the U.S.-born’’. It is completely normal for a country to regulate who can come into their country, through which means they choose. I understand that, but it is also wrong to bypass a wrong that is being done by your own people to then target another group of people for it. There is lots of injustice toward immigrants, especially undocumented immigrants. At a point it is not fair because these people actually contribute to this nation. 

There have been many stories of people who have lived decades in America, they have created a life for themselves, raised their kids, and have built their communities just to either be deported or threatened back to a place now foreign. One story in particular is the story of Georgia barber Rodney Taylor. What was supposed to be a joyous time for newly engaged Georgia barber Rodney Taylor turned into a nightmare when Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents showed up to the couple’s doorstep and arrested him – threatening to deport him to Liberia, a country he left when he was a toddler. While inside the detention center, Taylor told CNN, “I feel like an American. This is all I knew. I didn’t even know I was an immigrant until I was 17 years old,” In addition to this, Taylor also stated that “Going back to Liberia is like going back to a foreign country”. For 17 years Taylor has poured everything into this nation. He has built his life and worked in this country, but is somehow seen as a foreigner. Taylor is also a double amputee and struggles to receive care and carry out basic tasks while in custody for a potential deportation. As I said before, every country has the right to dictate who and how one can enter, but dare I say America is an exception.

America is often known as the land of opportunities, but do you know what it also is? The land of immigrants. America has, from its beginning been a land where all kinds of people search for a better life, refuge from a place of war, equality, a place to feel seen and protected, freedom of speech, religion, to find a group of people who accept you for you, and lastly a place to be accepted for being different as opposed to just being tolerated. These kinds of people sought after this very place, the outliers, the leaders, the black sheep, and even the followers

Compared to many countries, socially, America is one of the greatest countries. There are very few places other than the U.S where you can openly be different and have a group rooting you on. What makes America great, is its ability to mix and match so many differences from quite literally the whole world. The ability to apply and utilize the cultures, languages, music, and practices to build and to integrate upon itself is truly really beautiful, it's united yet individual. It created the salad bowl we all so dearly know the U.S by. This is why it is so important to treat these immigrants, documented or not, with respect and an acknowledgment. They significantly contribute to this country, be it, economically, socially, or culturally. The ability for leaders of this country to uphold justice for people that aren’t yet their own should be a dominant principle of their leadership. Why do you think America is so great? Look at every sector, artistically, mathematically, athletically, ect. It's a place that single handedly carries a ‘’type of everyone’’. I mean in what country do you go to a nationals mathematics team then mostly see all asian students standing in for the American team. Personally if I went to a national mathematics convention for an Indian team I would expect to see the majority be Indian, but I digress. As I said before I am not here to say what's right and wrong, but to shed light on the injustice in this country against immigrants. I am not saying to just allow whoever into the country, but instead handle this issue with a bit more respect and consideration. These people have cried, bled, and broken their backs to weave in the thread that forges the 13 alternating red and white lines, and the 50 stars on the blue background of the flag. The same flag that preaches identity, freedom, and unity but relies on the backs of others to practice it. All for what, all because these immigrants chose to settle for the bare minimum. Just so they could have a safe place for their families, their communities, and themselves. Just to be met with disrespect and the lack of acknowledgment from the leaders of this country. This article only covers the tip of the iceberg about the complex framework of immigration. All I have left to say is, to the present, and future leaders of this country is, tread lightly. Tread lightly for all the people that have come before you, and those who will come after you. Tread lightly as to not disrupt the very thread, and needle, that work to keep this country together.