Tossing and turning on election night, I couldn’t sleep. I checked the results at midnight, 1 a.m., 2 a.m., and 3 a.m. until my hope gave out and exhaustion finally took over. My worst fears were becoming reality: Donald Trump was returning to the presidency, this time with a vengeance.
I know what you’re thinking: Another op-ed complaining about Trump. Whatever. But before you move on, I ask you to hear me out. For me, this isn’t just politics—it’s deeply personal.
On election night, my fiancé’s mother was still waiting for approval on her green card. Immigration policies were no longer abstract—they were a looming threat to my family’s future. Friends tried to reassure me, hoping she’d get her green card before Trump’s second term began, but the fear didn’t go away. And I know I wasn’t alone in that anxiety.
I acknowledge the challenges of unregulated immigration including strained community resources, undercutting wages and jobs, and national security risks. However, Trump’s policies go too far, targeting vulnerable communities and undermining American values.
Trump’s attempt to end birthright citizenship by executive order was not only unconstitutional but also a direct attack on legal immigrants. Had this policy existed, my fiancé—born while her parents were here on a student visa—wouldn’t be a U.S. citizen. This isn’t just about undocumented families; it punishes legal immigrants and undermines the very principles that fuel America’s success. Immigrants drive economic growth, curb inflation, boost birth rates, and lead innovation. Stripping birthright citizenship would weaken our nation’s social capital and economic fabric. A federal judge rightly blocked the order as unconstitutional, yet many self-proclaimed constitutional conservatives applauded Trump’s move.
This is just the beginning. Trump’s radical immigration agenda includes restricting asylum seekers, ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Ukranian and Afghani refugees, and deploying the military at the border.
Americans, of both parties, need to understand the devastating effects of these policies—and take responsibility for the consequences of indifference to politics. What bothers me is that many Americans have been tuning out of the national media since the election. At the same time, some Trump supporters I know remain unaware of the real-life harm his policies pose to legal and illegal immigrants.
First, my critique is for those on the left. Biden and Harris’s last-minute attempts to appear tough on immigration felt insincere and failed to persuade many Americans who see this issue as pervasive and unaddressed. Even in liberal strongholds like New York City, the Biden administration’s open-border approach faced criticism as the costs of accommodating so many immigrants became unsustainable.
Did Biden really think Americans would accept an unregulated border without question? Did he believe he could dismiss valid concerns by labeling critics as bigoted or racist? Even Senator Bernie Sanders has warned of the costs of a broken immigration system, from undercutting wages to the exploitation of workers in the H-1B system.
As one immigrant friend put it, seeing people live in tents and airports is offensive and inhumane. This is no way to treat anyone. We need a strong, regulated immigration system—one that funds border patrol, adds immigration courts to clear the backlog, and addresses systemic inefficiencies. Simply letting in millions of immigrants without fixing the system overwhelms resources, leaves people in inhumane conditions, and fuels anti-immigrant sentiment at the ballot box.
The left must push for meaningful, long-term immigration reforms that protect and empower immigrant families. They also need to stop dismissing those who support stronger immigration policies as racist or bigoted—it’s not productive. We need real solutions, not just rhetoric or finger-pointing.
Second, to the right, I ask you to consider the consequences of supporting President Trump’s immigration policies. Whether intentional or not, such support has led to significant harm to immigrant families—legal and undocumented alike—and poses a real threat to the principles that make our nation strong, including our Constitution and the rule of law.
Take, for example, the thousands of Afghan allies who fought alongside U.S. troops in the war on terror. These brave men and women were promised refuge from the Taliban, yet Trump reversed their protected status, leaving them in limbo and at risk of being sent back to a hostile Afghanistan. Similarly, Ukrainians fleeing war and other refugees from conflict zones around the world have also faced the loss of TPS. This is particularly troubling, as refugees undergo some of the most thorough vetting processes and are among the safest groups of immigrants.
As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we are encouraged to “succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees” (Doctrine & Covenants 81:5). The Church has repeatedly expressed its support for refugees and urged governments to extend compassion to those seeking safety. Yet Trump’s call to pause all refugee admissions, even temporarily, goes against this spirit of charity and moral responsibility.
Beyond the harm to families, Trump’s immigration policies undermine the Constitution. Whether or not you support his stance on immigration, we should all agree that there are limits to presidential power. His politicization of the military and willingness to bypass constitutional checks and balances are alarming signs of democratic backsliding. A government that selectively applies the rule of law based on partisan preferences is a threat to the freedoms we hold dear. Our loyalty should not be to a party or a personality, but to the enduring principles of democracy and justice.
On a personal note, my fiancé’s mother received her green card just weeks before Trump took office. It was an answer to many prayers. But I know countless other families who were not so fortunate—families who live in constant anxiety, unsure if or when they will be separated from their loved ones.
Trump’s immigration policies are not just extreme—they are harmful to families, our Constitution, and the very idea of America as a land of opportunity and refuge. For many, the stakes are too high to simply wait for the next election cycle. As members of this nation and this Church, let us advocate for policies that reflect compassion, uphold the rule of law, and honor the values that make America great.
