Over the last week, news about Chicago being taken over by protesters regarding Donald Trump’s presidential rallies has been on T.V. non-stop. These protests are being organized by individuals who do not agree with Trump’s divisive policies and rhetoric. The streets of Chicago looked as if they were near the point of rioting, with Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders supporters standing at odds with each other, each one ardently believing in the cause they came to fight for. Donald Trump’s poll numbers are rising every day, with nearly half of GOP voters supporting the candidate and having claimed recent wins in Michigan, Mississippi and Hawaii. Donald Trump’s policies, namely his immigration policy, which he has focused around Mexican immigrants, has caused significant backlash. There are 11.3 million [3.5% of the population] and counting illegal immigrants in the U.S. with half being from Mexico, and in 2014 alone, there were 104,000 people, who by law should have been deported [due to criminal offenses], but were “instead allowed to remain on American soil”.
The tension can mostly be found in Trump’s policy options for immigration and the dissent that is coming from the majority of democratic voters, calling Trump’s words hateful and offensive. His initial remarks on building a wall and keeping the illegal immigrants sparked an outcry. Trump states: “When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best,” he said. “They’re not sending you. They are not sending you. They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.” Many were offended by his statement, with the likes of Adriana Almanza who wrote the gone viral Facebook “Dear Mr. Trump” letter that “If my dad is any representation of the type of people Mexico ‘sends’, there is no doubt in my mind this country is getting the best. The problem is that you and I have a different definition of ‘the best’.” The vendetta is how will illegal immigrants, who have made a home here, be affected by the possibility of a Donald Trump presidency and possible implementation of tough new immigration laws?
Donald Trump’s policy regarding mexican immigration has not changed, and even states on his website the three core principles of his Immigration Plan, which include:
“1. A nation without borders is not a nation. There must be a wall across the southern border.”
“2. A nation without laws is not a nation. Laws passed in accordance with our Constitutional system of government must be enforced.”
“3. A nation that does not serve its own citizens is not a nation. Any immigration plan must improve jobs, wages and security for all Americans.”
His policy also calls for the Mexican Government to pay for the wall, stating that “In short, the Mexican government has taken the United States to the cleaners. They are responsible for this problem, and they must help pay to clean it up. The cost of building a permanent border wall pales mightily in comparison to what American taxpayers spend every single year (around 4.2 billion according to the latest statistic) on dealing with the fallout of illegal immigration on their communities, schools and unemployment offices.”
The policies that Trump has in mind would drastically change the policies that Obama has put into place and upheave the lifestyle that many illegal immigrants have in the United States, causing mass deportation of undocumented individuals-and possibly some U.S. citizens and/or directing them to be forced to immigrate into the United States through legal practices and agencies. According to Washington Post contributor Michael Strain, “Does he understand how his police state would affect the country? Apart from the obvious ways that have been much discussed — breaking up families; a massive disruption for businesses, schools, churches, communities; potentially turning neighbor against neighbor.”
It is then easy to see why these protesters and other larger protests across the country would be so up in arms about Trump’s growing chances of being a viable presidential candidate, given that many are concerned about families being split up [if the parents came here illegally but had children here, their children are US citizens but the parents are subject to deportation as they are not] and those individuals being deported.
However, in terms of the immigration policy, a border has to be built, but we must be diplomatic about it. It is true that many nations across the world have tougher borders (including Mexico, Colombia and Panama)and laws than we do, so the notion that we need tougher borders and border laws does hold some merit. Undocumented individuals should have a way to citizenship, since many positively influence the United States and will take labor and jobs that American citizens might not necessarily want. Although there might be some drastic changes, and it may have some financial repercussions for businesses such as a massive losses of undocumented workers, it is time to stand for the process of legal immigration- for the betterment of the protection and safety of the country.
Take Action: End Illegal Immigration here.
