Key Takeaways:
- The Trump administration’s new immigration order has left many undocumented immigrants in Texas feeling fearful and uncertain about their future.
- The order bars people from 19 countries, including Venezuela, Cuba, Afghanistan, and others in Africa and the Middle East, from applying for green cards and citizenship.
- The policy has also halted all asylum decisions and orders the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services agency to review the cases of people who are applying for a green card or already have been approved for one.
- The order has had a chilling effect on international students studying at Texas colleges and universities, with a 17% drop in new international enrollment this fall.
- Immigrant communities in Texas are experiencing a sense of fear and anxiety, with many individuals neglecting basic needs and potentially leading to health crises.
Introduction to the Crisis
The recent federal immigration order has sent shockwaves through the immigrant community in Texas, leaving many individuals and families feeling fearful and uncertain about their future. Sara, an undocumented Venezuelan who has been living in the United States for nearly a decade, is one such individual. She had been preparing for a radio interview to promote her plans to open an at-home child care center in Central Texas when she learned that the new order rendered her ineligible for legal status. As a result, Sara and her family have been forced to go into hiding, following strict rules to avoid detection by immigration authorities.
The Impact on Immigrant Families
The order has had a devastating impact on immigrant families like Sara’s, who have spent years trying to obtain legal status. Sara’s family has been separated for six years, with her two sons living with relatives or friends in Colombia and the Dominican Republic while their parents petitioned for Temporary Protected Status. After finally being granted TPS status, they requested permission for their children to join them, and Sara worked multiple jobs to make ends meet. However, the new order has put all their plans on hold, and they are now living in fear of deportation and separation.
The Broader Implications
The order has also had a broader impact on the immigrant community in Texas, with many individuals and families feeling anxious and uncertain about their future. Immigration attorneys are scrambling to ensure their clients understand the ramifications of the order, while community advocates are working to provide accurate information and support. The order has also had a chilling effect on international students studying at Texas colleges and universities, with a 17% drop in new international enrollment this fall. According to Sarah Spreitzer, vice president at the American Council on Education’s government relations division, the uncertainty surrounding the order may lead international students to choose to study in another country.
The Human Cost
The human cost of the order is evident in the stories of individuals like Sara, who have been forced to put their lives on hold and live in fear of deportation. Sara’s family has had to sell belongings and deposit the money into a savings account, and they have stopped driving for food delivery services due to the risk of ICE raids. Sara still accepts a small number of nannying jobs for clients she’s known for years, but the family’s overall situation is precarious. As Sara said, "We came to this country where we were supposed to build a life, a country where you have to adapt to the culture, the laws, the norms. And (the Trump administration) scrapped all of it, and you feel imprisoned, oppressed. It’s incredibly inhumane."
The Fear and Anxiety
The fear and anxiety caused by the order are palpable in the immigrant community. Joe Morales, a Lufkin resident who has helped undocumented people with immigration-related petitions for over two decades, said that the work has grown tense in the last year as immigration policies have created a sense of fear in East Texas. The people he helps are scared of deportation, the lack of due process, and the potential separation from their families. As Morales said, "The pervasive fear can create a ‘shelter in place’ mentality, causing individuals to neglect basic needs necessary for maintaining a healthy life." Ali Zakaria, a Houston attorney, calls it "just a depressing time," and notes that communities across the board are anxious, and the only recourse is to run to the courts, which are already inundated with applications.
The Uncertain Future
The future is uncertain for Sara and her family, as well as for many other immigrant families in Texas. Sara doesn’t know what’s next, and the family has hired an executor to look after their belongings in case they are separated again. However, they don’t have a plan yet if that time comes, and Sara is afraid she might have to start over in another country, separated again from her two sons. As she said, "I understand that people have done bad things, and everyone’s responsible for their actions, and I’m not defending them. But to generalize and lump us all into the same bucket hurts when you come and do everything right, when you’re careful, and, above all, when you contribute. It’s hurtful." Despite the uncertainty, Sara remains determined to build a life for herself and her family, and she is willing to start over if necessary.
