By: Anne Roesink, 6th blue
“Humans build too many walls and not enough bridges.” – Unknown Author
In 2017, dozens of undocumented immigrants felt terrified when they learned that the administration of the new president, Donald Trump, was seeking to cancel the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. This government program protects undocumented immigrants who arrived in the United States as children, with their families, in search of new opportunities and the long-awaited “American Dream.”
They finally felt some relief in 2021, when Joe Biden, on his first day in office, signed an executive order to “preserve and strengthen” the program. But their relief didn’t last long.
On January 20th of this year, Donald Trump won the election again and returned to power. He made his plans for 2025 clear—among them: imposing radical tariffs, using presidential powers to attack his enemies, and, the one I will focus on today, carrying out the largest mass deportation campaign in U.S. history.
Good morning. My name is Anne Elizabeth Roesink Rodríguez, and as I mentioned earlier, I am going to talk about how Trump is harming lives, futures, and even his own country.
I chose this topic because my older sister is currently living in Denver, United States. And although she is not living there illegally—she has residency—I witnessed how she left her job, family, and friends to pursue her dream.
But first: Why is Trump deporting undocumented immigrants? Trump argued that it is necessary to reinforce national security, claiming that undocumented immigrants are smuggling drugs through ports of entry and worsening the opioid crisis in the United States. But the harsh reality is that most seizures of smuggled illicit drugs in the U.S. happen at legal ports of entry, and they are more often brought in vehicles by U.S. citizens, not by immigrants.
You may ask: Why didn’t they just come legally? Because even obtaining a passport can be extremely expensive for people living in difficult conditions—and getting a visa is even more complicated and costly. So many people are left with no option but to cross illegally into the United States.
Just imagine being someone who emigrated to the U.S. to get a better job in your profession as a doctor. Imagine being hated for coming illegally—even while you’re saving the lives of their sick relatives. So, the U.S. wants our culture, our food, our music—but not our people? If they don’t want us, they shouldn’t be profiting off our culture.
So, the next time someone thinks immigrants are a threat, remember this: Behind every migration story, there are dreams, sacrifices, and entire families seeking a better life. The true strength of a country lies not in rejecting those who seek hope, but in building bridges of opportunity and compassion.
SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
SDG 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions.
