Immigration
To say the least, life as an immigrant has become extremely complicated in recent years. The
previous Trump administration was a big part of the racist anti-immigrant rhetoric that put
migrants in danger and marginalized them. The Trump administration took over 400 executive measures on immigration during his term, all of which had a significant effect on the immigration process and immigrants of all backgrounds. Initially, these acts were aimed at preventing immigrants from majority Muslim countries from entering the United States.This executive order was dubbed the "Muslim ban" by many, and it not only demonized vulnerable refugees fleeing war and dictatorships, but it also opened the door to discrimination against immigrants in general. The assault on illegal immigrants continued this trend. The Trump administration pressed for tougher immigration policies, including limiting the number of green cards and work visas issued. Of course, family separation at the border was one of the most callous measures they implemented. Hundreds of migrant families and unaccompanied minors were housed in inhumane conditions in ice detention centers.In these facilities, there were several cases of rape and abuses of human rights. Even with widespread reports of migrant deaths, the Trump administration did almost nothing to stop them. Via social media and rallies, President Trump has perpetuated racist perceptions of immigrants, especially Mexican immigrants, during his presidency.
“When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best. They’re not sending you. They’re 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.”
Donald Trump presidential announcement speech
Many saw this as a war on refugees, and with good reason. Trump's presidency has generated a schism in the nation, allowing his supporters to openly display bigotry. As a result, many people hoped that Biden's election would bring stronger immigration policies and an end to hateful anti-immigration rhetoric. Despite Biden's announcement of an immigration reform package, nothing has changed, leaving thousands of migrant families in limbo. ICE detention centers are still operational, according to a senior official, despite court filings by the Biden administration outlining efforts to end migrant family detentions. Even promises to increase the refugee quota during the 2022 fiscal year have not been kept by the Biden administration, which recently announced that they will maintain the Trump administration's refugee cap of 15,000 per fiscal year. Although it is unlikely that the Biden administration will be able to fully reverse the previous administration's policies, drastic reform is needed to establish policies that enable all immigrants to pursue their dreams and explore their talents.