Editor’s Note: Some sources have been granted anonymity in the interest of student safety. Interviewees are anonymous unless they otherwise gave consent to be named in the article.
“Go back to your country, and if you don't like it here, go back,” said Oscar Huizar, a Mexican-American student at IU Indianapolis.
Huizar’s words echo the widespread rhetoric that many immigrants in the United States are facing, especially after President Trump has continued to implement harsh immigration policies.
“These [are the] stuff that we [immigrants] see online. They just don't understand that we're here to provide a better life,” added Huizar. “You don't think that my parents don't wanna go back to their country? They left with nothing in their pockets and started from zero. You don't think they missed the beautiful land over there? You don't think that they don't miss the family over there, you know?”
During his 2024 campaign, Trump shared his ideas for immigration. His new plan was to secure the border from an influx of illegal immigration, which he described as a prominent problem for the American people. His actions while in office have included directing the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice and the Department of State to work on the southern border to remove undocumented immigrants from the country through the exercise of his authority under the Immigration and Nationality Act and the Constitution.
In 2016, Donald Trump won the presidential election. CNN said, “The pundits thought Trump’s reality show antics, his vulgar rhetoric, speeches filled with falsehoods and insults thrown at almost every sector of American society – Latinos, African Americans, war heroes, women and Muslims – would disqualify him from the presidency.” However, Trump did win, and one result of that was an increased suppression of the status of immigration.
Since 2016, Trump has continued to target immigrants and immigration in the United States.
"Illegal immigration affects the lives of all Americans," said Trump on Nov. 1, 2018, in the Roosevelt Room. "It hurts American workers, burdens taxpayers, undermines public safety and places enormous strain on local schools, hospitals and communities, taking precious resources away from the poorest Americans who need them most. Illegal immigration costs our country billions of dollars each year."
According to Pew Research, immigrants account for 14.3% of the US population as of 2023. This number continues to grow today, and immigrants and their children are increasingly susceptible to the anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies which Trump is pushing for.
Students on campus have expressed their worries about the remarks by the Trump administration. Many of these students have lived through Trump’s first term which began in 2017, recalling how it had shaped their daily thoughts and fears about what his policies mean for the safety of their families. These same fears have come back for these students since Trump’s inauguration day on Jan. 20.
“In 2016, I was in the 6th grade. Everyday I came home wondering if I would come home to an empty house or my mom's cooking. It was a fear of mine every day,” said Student A, a Mexican-American student on campus. “And it's sad that I voted [in 2024] and he won. Now I’m wondering if I’m going to come home from university to an empty house, or a home to my mom sleeping on the couch.”
On Jan. 20, Trump signed an executive order seeking to prevent the children of undocumented immigrants from automatically claiming citizenship, creating the possibility of many future babies born in the U.S. being stateless. This executive order would, in effect, remove the right of citizenship for those born in the U.S., a legal status that has been promised under the Birthright Act for generations.
Birthright citizenship is a legal principle where anyone born in the U.S. is automatically given citizenship. In simpler terms, this means that if you’re born on U.S. soil you’re American no matter where your parents are from through birthplace-based citizenship.
With Trump’s executive order, immigrants are worried about not just their own citizenship, but also the status of their future children who will eventually be born in the United States if this order were to go into effect.
On Feb. 10, a New Hampshire federal court blocked President Trump’s executive order to end birthright citizenship.
“My parents both moved here from Mexico to the [United States] around 2001, and, in 2003, they gave birth to my brother, and then, in 2005, I was born. Thus, my brother and I are both birthright,” said Student A.
Another student, Student B, a child of Middle Eastern descent said, “My parents moved from Jordan to the U.S. when my dad got his residency in cardiology, and my mom, who was already a dentist, had to undergo dental school here to be considered one. They worked hard to establish themselves here, and I was born in the U.S., making me a citizen by birthright.”
Or Huizar, a child of Mexican immigrants said, “I mean, it would affect me tremendously because I am a birthright citizen. I just feel like being Mexican-American, it gets difficult, because either A, you're too Mexican for here or over there, you're too American, and it kind of makes it difficult when you're not wanted here in the United States. And I'm like, I was just born here. Just like you, you know? I don't know what's the difference.”
Across the IU Indianapolis campus, thousands of students, like Huizar, are children to immigrant parents and are also citizens through birthright citizenship.
Student B adds that birthright, “gave me privileges that my parents had to fight for, like access to education and a stable life. I didn't have to worry about visas or immigration status the way many children of immigrants do, but I've seen firsthand the struggles they faced.”
For an Amendment to be ratified, three-fourths of the legislature must approve it which means 38 out of the 50 states. However, as of Jan. 20, more than 20 states have sued the Trump Administration's plan to overturn birthright citizenship including New York, California, and Minnesota..
Students like A and B have also added that they do not think Trump's executive order will go through.
“An executive order (EO) is different from a law. It's a directive from the president, but it can be challenged in court. Since birthright citizenship is protected by the Constitution, changing it would require an amendment, which is extremely difficult. Even if Trump signs an EO, it would face major legal battles, and historically, courts have upheld birthright citizenship,” said Student B.
Student A added, "When I was talking to my mom, she asked if we should be worried about Trump eliminating birthright citizenship, but I said, ‘Not really.’ Birthright is in the Constitution, and the last time we amended something was in 1992. The amendment process is long and hard. Even if he wants to do that, what is going to happen to stateless children, kids who don’t have anything? I should live in fear, but if I do, it just shows I'm worried about Trump."
Trump has also restricted access to the provisions of the immigration laws, making it more difficult for undocumented immigrants to remain in the U.S., even limiting the ability to seek asylum.
“Well, if you wanna fix the issue [immigration], people say, why not just do it the legal way,” said Huizar. “The issue is that there's no pathway, to do it the legal way, you know, they make it difficult. They make it damn near impossible.”
Thousands of asylum seekers from West African countries like Mauritania, Senegal, and others in NYC since summer 2023. Photo courtesy of Luiz C. Ribeiro, New York Daily News
For those who flee persecution, they have the option of requesting asylum at the border, which is considered a legal process in the United States. Persecution can be based on race, religion, nationality, social group affiliation or political opinion. Asylum includes the right to remain in the country without being forced to return to their home country. Those receiving asylum are allowed services such as education, housing and healthcare.
Trump's order has suspended asylum and resettlement in the country indefinitely. This left many refugees stranded on their way to the U.S.to receive their asylum status, as well as leading to thousands of Venezuelans having their Temporarily Protected Status extension canceled. Students on campus recall their immigration stories, with many involving the pathway to citizenship through asylum.
"When we first got here, we were seeking asylum and then we got our papers," said Student C, a Nigerian student on campus. "The reason my parents wanted to come here was because there’s better education here. In Nigeria, our country doesn’t have enough resources, and the government isn’t doing well. I don’t remember much about me and my siblings' asylum case, but I know ASAP (Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project) helps asylum seekers with the process, like helping find lawyers."
ASAP is a member-led non-profit organization dedicated to helping asylum seekers navigate the complex legal system. By 2024, ASAP included over 645,000 members from 175 countries, many of whom gained access to work permits, legal resources and personalized support. ASAP members have shared their stories and expressed their fears regarding actions taken by the Trump administration, with some even planning to file lawsuits for various reasons. Their stories are available in the "Press" section of the ASAP website.
Many other organizations have joined in filing lawsuits against Trump. On Feb. 12, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Center for Constitutional Rights, International Refugee Assistance Project and ACLU of the District of Columbia sued the current administration to gain access to information about the immigrants transferred to Guantánamo Bay, which the Trump administration has kept private.
Immigrants to the United States have also faced attacks based on their status. Their families continue to fight and learn from their experiences.
"Coming here, my parents faced racism, and my mom faced sexism. I see who they are. They are hardworking, and that’s what I’ve taken from them," said Student A. "That’s why whenever I meet children of immigrants, I say I understand them. The hard work is a point of view most people won’t understand. They ask why I'm working hard. It’s because all that has come before me has led me to this point of working hard at school and work. My parents didn’t come here for nothing."
Student B adds, “I know how difficult it is for immigrant parents to navigate education, work, and legal systems, so I feel a responsibility to advocate for fair opportunities and help those who are struggling.”
Undocumented immigrants also fight stereotypes brought about by arguments surrounding this issue.
While many have spoken out against the removal of undocumented immigrant workers, arguing that these individuals contribute to the economy, Huizar is concerned about the image this narrative creates of immigrants.
"It's important to understand that we shouldn't classify all Mexicans or all Latinos just as fruit pickers. We can be so much more," said Huizar. "People are already missing the fact that we can be so much more. We're not just cleaners, we're not just fruit pickers, we're not just factory workers. They're saying, 'Well, if we deport all the immigrants, our food prices will go up.' But you also have to understand that this is a human being—someone who has kids, who's a father, who's a mother, who can be so much more."
As a residential assistant on campus, Huizar has come up with ways of making sure his assigned residents are aware of what is going on, and created a safe space for people to voice their concerns.
"What we're doing is just bringing light to the situation, you know, saying, 'Hey, this is happening,' and keeping people informed because misinformation can be dangerous," said Huizar. "As an RA, we've been told that if ICE comes—though not directly—we can't violate FERPA. So we hold the safety of our residents above anything else. I've just been there for my residents when they want to talk about things because it can be scary. You don’t know who you can talk to about it. I feel like it's a duty to provide that space for people to talk."
Organizations and faculty on campus have distributed red cards to students. These wallet-sized cards outline the rights students have when encountering an ICE officer. Students are encouraged to present the cards to any officer asking questions about their immigration status while asserting their right to remain silent.
"What I've been trying to do is just make sure everyone knows what their rights are," said Huizar regarding the red cards. "These red cards help with understanding that you have a Fourth Amendment right to not allow people to enter your residence. You also have your Fifth Amendment right to not speak about things."
As the Trump administration continues its political journey, immigrants will continue to face new anxieties, worries, challenges and legal battles.
“In International Studies with Professor Pegg, he gave an analogy: if there are two poisoned Skittles in a bowl of Skittles, would you still eat it? That was an analogy he gave on how people see Immigrants,” said Student A. “I thought of the way he explained it, and he emphasized people are not objects, they have complex lives. For me, even if there are two bad people, I’d rather take a huge amount of people here who want to benefit. There is a greater chance we should take instead of worrying about the two poisoned Skittles inside the bowl. I think that is how people need to view immigration.”
Melanie Contreras and Umu Sow are both freshmen on campus. Contreras is majoring in journalism with a minor in public and professional writing, while Sow is majoring in political science with minors in global, international studies and legal studies.
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