On Jan. 20 of this year, President Trump signed an executive order titled “Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship” which blatantly and disgustingly offends the Constitution of the United States. Following its implementation, Attorneys General from Connecticut, New York, New Hampshire and several other states filed lawsuits contending that this order is unconstitutional. Pursuant to the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, citizenship is a birthright guarantee, a right that no administration—federal, state or local—can diminish under any circumstance. However, on his first day in office, Trump infringed upon this fundamental right, thus putting future generations of Americans at risk.
On the day of his inauguration, Trump made it crystal clear that he intends to reframe the American identity, calling his upcoming second term the “beginning of Americans’ golden age.” However, this vision does not include all Americans. Millions of undocumented immigrants are preparing their families and loved ones for what is about to be an attack on their livelihoods. To that end, let me make myself clear: immigrants belong here. This country is our home, and no one (not even the President of the United States) can or will take that away from us. That is why it was saddening to hear of millions of Latino voters casting ballots for Trump in 2024. It is disheartening to see people from my community internalizing racism and hate. It is as though a plague is infecting our communities in the United States, drawing further divisions and piercing through the backbone of America.
Section 1 of “American Citizenship” describes the 14th Amendment as “a priceless and profound gift,” and rightly so. Without it, millions of first-generation Americans would not be here today. What I find most troubling about this wording is its internal dissonance; the order acknowledges the value that this amendment holds to America before it undercuts the fundamental constitutional right the amendment upholds.
This will not be the first attempt to violate the Constitution to come from the Trump Administration. As I continue to read the contents of the executive order, I have come to realize that this is the beginning of millions of undocumented immigrants’ biggest fear. This is the beginning of a war on immigrants and disadvantaged communities in America. We live under a federal government which will do anything in its power to undermine the power that immigrant families hold. Our families are not “aliens,” nor are we human beings attempting to “invade” the United States; we are human and are here to pursue a better life for ourselves which, in turn, contributes positively to our local communities.
Will there be an “American Dream” for the next four years? Frankly, has there ever been such a dream? With a federal government attempting to dismantle the fabric of American democracy, the answer to that question seems too terrifying to express. Immigrants who have entered into the United States legally are still prone to racial profiling because of the influence that Trump has on the public. This is despicable. No parent should fear sending their child to school because of the possibility that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) would be present. No church should have to close its doors on a Sunday morning out of fears of possible deportation raids. No college student should have to face the potential of being separated from their loved ones.
If there is a silver lining to be found here, it is that inciting fear in immigrants only creates a stronger bond within immigrant communities. People like you and I can (and should) work toward becoming advocates for the voiceless. The United States was built off immigration—our immigrants are not going anywhere.
These attacks on immigrants will only continue as these next four years unfold. If you have friends who hail from immigrant families, do check in on them. These times are uncertain for our families, but they nonetheless serve as a reminder to the future leaders of America that there is much work to be done.
