President Trump’s second presidency has sparked a wave of fear among many undocumented workers, students, and families. His promise of mass deportations are erupting and many are worried for their safety. The rush has begun, the fear of not knowing whether you’re safe or not.
“They’ve already done enough by ripping them away from the life they’ve already built so why dehumanize them even more?” Says Samantha, a 17-year-old high school student.
Since President Trump’s return to the white house, he has followed through with his promises and issued many executive orders on immigration. He faces many legal obstacles that are challenging his authority over his ability to meet his goal and promise of deporting all undocumented immigrants in the United States.
Almost half of Americans claim Trump is doing “just enough”, and the other half claim he’s doing “too much”. Furthermore a smaller group is claiming he’s doing “too little”.
Samantha believes that the actions Trump is taking on are affecting immigrants. The mistreatment is something she doesn’t agree with, they’re doing nothing but dehumanizing them even more.
The perspective of health care workers has caught the attention of many American’s. Health care workers are afraid and concerned about undocumented patients and their safety. Many are now saying there should be a way for immigrants to stay legally in the U.S, “they should be given an opportunity” according to many netizens.
These mass deportations have started to bring up many topics which were lost throughout history. Many Texans claim Trump’s plans have echoes of the federal crackdown that swept through Texas in the 50s.
“more propaganda than it was a change in immigration law enforcement tactics or intensity.” UCLA history professor, Kelly Lytle Hernandez said about the operation that took place in the 50s.
Many view the treatment towards immigrants as unfair and damaging. Panam has taken in hundreds of immigrants who can’t be sent back to their countries. They were detained, stripped of everything they owned, and locked inside hotels with no way out.
According to witnesses, someone tried to commit suicide, another broke his leg trying to escape, and left with no hope, no sense of freedom.
Pictures have been released of many people locked in panama hotels and many have been interviewed by an undercover journalist. One man under the surname “Wang” has been locked in a hotel room. He left his wife and kids in China in order to come to the United States, looking for freedom. However, he said, “I had no idea it was like a dictatorship.” He added, “I would rather jump off a plane than to go back to China.”
Another couple, Mona, Mohammad and their 8 year old son. On the military plane going to Panama their son cried, Mona tried to comfort him but he was deeply distressed seeing his parents in shackles. Mona tried to comfort her son but she couldn’t help but cry herself. They were Iranian Christian converts, Mohammad recalled a Christian teaching and he called out to his wife,
“Jesus has said, ‘If you don’t take your eyes off me, I won’t take mine off you.’ So I was constantly signaling that to my wife, saying, keep your eyes on him,” he said.
Written By: Emily Negrete, Staff Writer