Uncertainty looms over many immigrant families in the United States, with policies that stir anxiety and fear among communities. One such story is that of a Temple University student, known as G., who left Argentina at 17 with aspirations for a better life in the U.S. Today, their achievements include U.S. citizenship and education at Temple, but their mother’s lack of citizenship casts a shadow over their future.
G.’s journey began with a long bus ride from Mendoza to Buenos Aires, where they caught a flight to America with their mother. Five years later, G. is settled in Philadelphia, yet concerned about how President Donald Trump’s immigration directives might affect their family.
“I’ve been thinking about all these hypothetical situations,” G. expressed. “She gets deported, I will have to drop out of school because I obviously have no money to pay for it, and then there is a whole rent that I’ll have to pay for, that I wouldn’t have the money for.”
Since taking office, Trump has implemented several immigration-focused executive orders, including attempts to end birthright citizenship and increase Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity nationwide, casting fear across Latino communities. A notable ICE raid near Temple’s Main Campus resulted in seven arrests, as reported by CBS here.
One executive order has expanded ICE’s reach into schools, healthcare facilities, and places of worship, leaving many worried about the safety of their loved ones. The uncertainty has heightened anxieties, especially for G., who fears for their mother’s safety.
In response to concerns, Temple University President John Fry reassured the community that ICE has not been active on campus, contrary to social media claims. In a statement on Jan. 29, Fry emphasized the lack of evidence supporting these rumors, which were also dispelled by Temple’s Department of Public Safety.
Kareena Ratnesh, leading Temple’s Association of Latino Professionals for America, expressed disbelief over Trump’s adherence to his campaign promises. She noted the shock of witnessing these policies unfold, reinforcing fears among students.
Trump’s initial presidency in 2017 saw efforts to bolster border security and scrutinize visa applications. His 2024 campaign promises included initiating “the largest domestic deportation operation in American history,” further intensifying concerns among immigrant communities.
“We always knew how Trump felt about immigrants and about those in the Latino community, and about those just immigrating from other countries,” Ratnesh commented. “And we always knew that he never really appreciated their presence here in the U.S. And I think just seeing all of this just act is really mind-blowing, I think for me, because I never once thought it could really happen.”
For many, including G., the U.S. represented hope and security away from the dangers of their home countries. However, the current climate challenges this notion, prompting calls for empathy and understanding.
Josie Carabello, a senior health professions major, criticized the recent policies as “completely inappropriate,” reflecting on the diverse immigrant foundation of the nation.
“The United States is obviously a country that’s built on the backs of immigrants, and also that’s made up of a really broad range of people,” Carabello stated.
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