Trump impact

Immigrant students’ views of new president’s policies

Not+so+welcome+%5C%5C+Immigrants+voice+concerns+about+new+administrations+immigration+policy.

photo credit: Valeria Herrera

Not so welcome \\ Immigrants voice concerns about new administration’s immigration policy.

They came here for a better opportunity for a better life, leaving behind childhood homes and coming in with high hopes for a new lifestyle but instead, received looks of disgust, labels of stereotypes and were forced to recreate themselves to adjust to the American culture.

At a rally in Phoenix, Arizona, in late fall of 2016, President Donald Trump stated about Mexicans: “They are taking our jobs. They are taking our manufacturing jobs.”

Sophomore, Karime Flores, was born in Mexico and moved to Wylie 10 years ago with her family. Flores’s parents sacrificed everything for her and her brothers to have a better opportunity.

“Some of my family members lost their jobs because of what Trump said. It’s not fair, we aren’t doing anything wrong,” said Flores.

This will never be home but it is a close second.

— Marcella Martinez, sophomore

Sophomore, Marcella Martinez, was born in San Luis, Mexico. She and her family moved from Plano, Texas, then eight years later, they moved to Wylie and enrolled in Davis Intermediate. She and her brother had to learn English.

“Trump thinks we leave a good life over there [ Mexico ] and come over here to make things worse for everyone else,” Martinez said.

Trump mentions the idea of “The Wall” as a campaign promise about deporting illegal criminals after referring to most of them as “Mexicans.”

“The U.S has become a dumping ground for everybody else’s problems,” said Trump. “When Mexico sends it’s people, they aren’t sending their best, they are sending people with a lot of problems and they are bringing their problems with them. They’re bringing drugs, they’re bringing crime and they’re rapists.”

“I’m horrified. Why would someone do everything in their power to keep other people from trying to have a better life?” Flores asked.

Besides targeting Mexicans, Trump turns the spotlight on Muslims by referring to them as a problem and states that Muslim people are terrorists.

AP world history teacher Samantha Smith says that people used to sit back and watch TV but nowadays people all around are talking to each other about politics, the environment and life which has opened a dialogue for all ages.

“He has woken society up from their stupor and has gotten involved,” said Smith.

According to independent.co.uk, Trump said, “Islamic terrorists continually slaughter Christians in their places of worship.”

Sophomore Yumna Ali was born in Pakistan and moved to Wylie four years ago with her family. She left behind relatives and faced struggles to adjust to American customs.

“Being a Muslim is a blessing for me because my religion tells me to treat everyone with respect and to promote peace.” Ali said, “People consider Muslims as terrorists but honestly, Islam tells us to treat each other equally because everyone is equal,” Ali said.

During the election period, Trump made the “Muslim Ban” which is, according to www.cnn.com, a pledge of banning Muslim immigration into the United States, as a part of his campaign promise.

“We must suspend immigration from regions linked with terrorism until a proven vetting method is in place,” said Trump.

Junior Jordan Peter was born in Pakistan and moved to Garland then recently moved to Wylie four years ago. Having nothing but family and their support until being able to get back on their feet themselves, Peter came with his family with very little money, and only had family support. Over time his parents got jobs and he and his family moved out.

“You shouldn’t be able to judge anybody based on their religion or race or wherever they come from but judge them by their actions,” Peter said. “People who did bad stuff towards America, turned out to be Muslim, that doesn’t mean all Muslims are terrorists.”

Martinez plans to educate children in the future and hopes to share her success story.

“This will never be home but it is a close second,” Martinez said.