Donald Trump’s return to office has reignited national debate, as his early executive actions spark hope and concern across America. From immigration to environmental policies, his decisions are already reshaping the country’s future. On his first day in office, Trump began implementing multiple executive orders, leaving the nation on edge. Some of the top concerns are as follows:
Donald Trump’s freeze on federal hiring for the foreseeable future. No federal job, including counties and states, will be able to hire for any position and must stop all hiring processes. This hiring freeze could disrupt essential services like veterans’ healthcare, national parks, and federal disaster response teams, leaving critical agencies understaffed. Companies that may be crucial to allow for optimal functions of the nation.
Repeal to the 14th Amendment birthright citizenship. This idea means that people, including children now born in the States, still need citizenship. The concern is the inability to bring new generations to the states. All newborns in the US would be considered to be citizens of wherever their mother’s citizenship lies. Taking away from the constitutional ideal of birthright citizenship would ultimately diminish a pillar of the nation.
Donald Trump also suspended the Refugee Admissions Program (RAP), putting a halt to all immigrants trying to legally cross the border and canceling all appointments to receive papers. The primary concern here is how exactly the right wing wants immigrants to come in if they cannot get appointments to enter the States legally. The left is increasingly concerned about immigration policies and how the states, especially California, can function without the influence of minorities. The farmworkers of California are mostly made up of Hispanic immigrants; without their work, our agricultural production will slow and may even stop.
Trump has also declared a national emergency at the border, deploying military personnel to prevent unauthorized crossings. Only U.S. citizens will be able to pass through the border walls. This state of national emergency sparks concern in many Americans as national emergency personnel are typically only deployed when violence or protests are expected.
There has also been an increase in ICE patrols seen throughout the states. With parents sending children to school with proof of citizenship, teachers, and administrators pushing ICE away from their campuses, and Mexicans, both legal and illegal, banding together to spread the news about where ICE is stationed, it’s clear there is a significant fear in the states. There has been a rise in Chicano Pride, Mexicano spirit, and immigration support rallies, all protesting against mass deportations. However, there has also been a massive rise in anti-Latino hate on social media and on the streets. Some to the extent of saying that all Mexican immigrants, regardless of citizenship, should be deported. This rise has caused many Latinx to be worried about their safety. With the new development that allows ICE to enter churches, many congregations have canceled their Spanish-speaking services to continue to protect their members. The allowance of ICE in schools, churches, and hospitals has many opposers, but unfortunately, there will be no change coming.
Donald Trump has also withdrawn from the Paris Agreement for the second time. The Paris Agreement on climate change has been helpful for decades in slowing climate change and understanding what is causing it. Trump also pulled the United States from the agreement in his first term. A decision Biden reversed in his time in office, and a decision America is witnessing again. For the second time, Trump has also pulled the United States out of the World Health Organization. By exiting the WHO again, Trump risks limiting America’s role in global health initiatives, which could hinder responses to future pandemics.
On a different note, Trump has taken it upon himself to rename the Gulf Of Mexico to the Gulf of America. An action that thousands of Americans are confused about. In a nation where we have poverty, we’re facing massive natural disasters, students and teachers fear for their safety, and people die daily from violent acts on the street; Trump’s focus lies on what to name a gulf.
However, these are only a few of the programs implemented by Trump that have something to do with the nation. These do not include programs directly supporting Trump and his billionaire friends. The small things like how Donald Trump keeps his assets even though they are an apparent conflict of interest between himself and the presidency. Or how Donald Trump has become one of the 25 wealthiest people in the world after claiming the presidency and creating a new cryptocurrency.
Donald Trump has objectively only implemented programs that aid his journey to becoming richer than he already is. He has pulled out of programs that would help the American working class and the economy. He has pulled out programs to help the younger generations with housing or other concerns from Gen Z nationwide. He has pulled the nation out of the World Health Organization, the nation from the Paris Agreement for climate change and continuously said that he will pull the nation out of Biden’s climate change policies. Changes that ultimately affect the people of the nation. Especially those who are in the mid to lower classes. We may not know what is ahead of our nation in the next four years. All we can do is hope that our president lives up to the promise to serve and protect all of the nation’s people, regardless of wealth, culture, gender, political standings, race, or our choice to speak out against him. These are the things that will truly define our next four years.
