United States President Donald John Trump, whose father‘s grandparents immigrated from Germany to the United States and whose mother became a naturalized citizen from Scotland in 1942, is making America unsafe again, for undocumented and citizens alike.
There are countless actions this current administration has taken that are being felt by the NEIU community, such as the potential TikTok ban. The Independent will be focusing on some of the issues regarding the Trump Administration, primarily those that affect NEIU. While this student publication is hyperlocal, we always try to cover what is important to students.
The amount of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in sanctuary cities, including Chicago, has brought about fear in not only the immigrant community but also for U.S citizens. Despite the “assurance” that ICE agents will only detain criminal immigrants, there have been arrests or detentions of U.S. citizens before, as was the case with Mark Lyttle in the early 2010s, when he, a disabled man, was detained and deported to Mexico, despite having no Mexican heritage.
I have had U.S citizens approach me regarding ICE, worried about birthright citizenship. While the current executive orders have to do with those who are second-generation, there is still fear from those who are first-generation.
There are worries about the cutting of the Department of Education, and what will that mean for funding for NEIU and other Chicago universities such as those being investigated for actions regarding pro-Palestine campus protests.
I am heartbroken, by everything that has happened since the start of the presidential administration. I have anger and worries, not just for those in the nation, but within Chicago and NEIU. But within this publication, and countless others, will notify and remind people of what this current administration is doing and what actions the nation as a whole is taking to rectify their actions.
While with politics there are several rules and regulations that may be difficult to go through, it is important to look through as politics have ramifications that can affect everything. As John Green said in a recent YouTube video titled “This is not normal”, “Progress is not inevitable, it is the result of sustained ongoing open-ended funding and collaboration.”
Take the time to be aware, know that you have a voice. Reach out to your representative as well as your congressperson. If you have a platform, use it to let people know what they might not know.
For those who want to share their voice as well within this newspaper, I invite the NEIU community to share their opinions via Letter to the Editor. With a word count of 1,500 words, Letters can be submitted to [email protected] or to other editors listed on the site. More information can be found on our policies page.
Also take time for yourself, relax when you can so that you will not be overwhelmed.
