The setting of a sun brings the rise of a moon, presenting a dark moonlight.
The path in front is unclear and unsteady, but look up to the sky.
The stars shine brighter when it’s darker.
With the latest election comes a new president: Donald Trump. Having already served a term before, he returns for round two, along with various new policies and acts ready to go. His stance on immigration is unnecessary and won’t help but would rather harm America.
The 14th Amendment, passed by Congress on June 13, 1866 and ratified on July 9, 1868, is facing redefinition by the Trump administration. He and his administration are attempting to change it from the simple requirement of “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside“ to having more requirements. The 14th Amendment, in almost its 200 years of existence, hasn’t been an issue, so Trump is — as my mom would say — fixing what isn’t broken. The new requirements for birthright citizenship could cause a fallout and further division within the people, pushing them away from the idea of and altering the definition of being a true American. In a time where the people need to stay together, this act merely drives a bigger wedge.
This change to the amendment falls hand in hand with his recent enforcing of ICE raids, deporting undocumented persons under the usual argument of limiting illegal immigration into the United States. But no one talks about how hard it is to legally travel to the states. A typical story is always a what-if? — what if a child is born in America with an illegal immigrant parentage? But America already has lengthy legal processes regarding immigration; with the waitlists for a green card reaching over nine million, the process to immigrate to America and even have a child would take years, and to work through the current backlog could take decades.
Further, undocumented immigrants in the United States play a vital role in our economy. 8.3 million of these immigrants work in the United States, making up 5.2% of the workforce. As Trump enforces ICE raids, we will begin to see more and more positions open up in these sectors. With the loss of these workers, we may see potential labor shortages, inflation, and a slow down of the economy. This does not just affect the people being deported, it affects us as well.
When we go to the grocery store and notice our favorite fruit isn’t available, it’s important to remember that the people responsible for bringing these products to our tables are often immigrants. A huge majority of these people take part in blue-collar jobs, considered the “dirty” or undesirable jobs of America. This is a long-standing stereotype due to blue-collar jobs tending to need less education, therefore creating the cliché that blue-collar workers are “dumb” and “uneducated”. This could not be more wrong — blue-collar jobs run America.
Another common stereotype leveled against undocumented immigrants is that they are dangerous, or criminals, but the actions of one individual should not be used to judge an entire group. We may not see it or be aware of it, but these undocumented immigrants hail a significant part of America’s success. Their contributions are vast, and their impact is woven deeply into the fabric of the nation.
Some people may argue that President Trump’s new immigration policies benefit the people of America, however, once again, they just focus on measures that fail to address the underlying issues of immigration and human rights. Rather than proposing a comprehensive and humane solution, the new policies create fear and division, perpetuating the same harmful rhetoric that has fueled the current crisis at the border.
Some of these acts should be rolled back or not enacted – such as altering the 14th Amendment– while some need proper changing and handling to stay, like his approach to immigration. These laws should be carefully thought over by a team of all sorts of professionals in their fields to find out the pros and cons of these acts. These acts should only help America and have the U.S. grow as a country, yet these acts damage our communities, harming us in the long run.
The stars light a path forward.
No use in dawdling over the present.
No turning back now.
