(Photo courtesy of Getty Images) “Mr. Trumpin the White House on Jan. 20, 2025”
Collin Gallagher
Connector Contributor
Since President Donald Trump’s recent inauguration, his administration has quickly enacted a series of stringent immigration policies that have sparked widespread debate and concern. These measures include attempts to revoke birthright citizenship and an aggressive escalation of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations across the nation. To gain insight into the personal impact of these policies, The Connector spoke with Miguel Coronado, a senior accounting major, and Benafshay Merchant, a senior criminal justice major.
Coronado, a U.S. citizen born under the 14th Amendment to immigrant parents, shared his concerns about the administration’s immigration policies. “I’m very fortunate that I was born in this country,” he acknowledged. “I think if you’re born on American soil, you’re American. It’s a little ridiculous that they want to take that away.” He also spoke about the proposed large-scale deportations, saying, “I’ve heard this is going to be the most massive deportation in U.S. history. I don’t know exactly how big, but I do know that in the area where I live, a lot of undocumented people live. I’m friends with these people, so I do get nervous for them.”
Reflecting on how undocumented individuals navigate the system, he pointed out a major issue, saying “A lot of them don’t know their rights in this country. That’s a big problem.” He acknowledged that while he sympathizes with those seeking a better life, he also understands the frustrations of legal immigrants. “I do feel bad for them because I know legal immigrants who wait seven or eight years to get through the system.”When asked if he would support immigration reform that speeds up legal processes, he was firm in his response, saying “I definitely support restructuring our immigration system. The process shouldn’t take this long… it gets held up in the courts, and that’s really the problem. If we could streamline it without making it easier, just more efficient, that would be a step in the right direction.”
Coronado, like many others, believes the current policies have created fear and division. “Why are we taking rights away when we have bigger problems to worry about?” he asked, emphasizing the need for a more balanced approach. The Trump administration has stated that these policies are meant to remove people who could pose a threat to the public. The President has explained that the objective and goal is to deport people with criminal records, especially those convicted of serious crimes like murder, drug dealing, and sexual assault.
For Benafshay Merchant, a senior criminal justice major who works as an intern at the International Institute of New England, the policies directly impact her work. The organization assists immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers in navigating the resettlement process. “I think it’s horrible,” she said, reacting to the new policies. “A lot of our clients that were supposed to come here through sponsorships can’t anymore. They were coming from places like Afghanistan, fleeing the Taliban, and now they’re stuck.”
Merchant explained that many of these individuals had worked with or supported the U.S. military in their home countries. “They come here because they’ve either worked for the U.S. government in Afghanistan—like military work, custodial staff, translators, things like that. A lot of them rely on sponsorships from the U.S., and because of Trump’s policies, they’re now unable to enter the country.” She expressed frustration with the speed at which these executive orders were enacted, saying “It feels like he’s signing all these executive orders really fast to make it look like he’s doing something. But realistically, how many of them will actually pass? I don’t know.”
Beyond policy concerns, Merchant was deeply troubled by the broader implications of restricting immigration. “This country is literally built on immigrants. None of this land was originally ours,” she said. “It doesn’t make me happy knowing that people who have risked their lives for the U.S. are now being denied the safety they were promised.”As the nation handles these policies, these voices, like Miguel Coronado and Benafshay Merchant, highlight the personal impacts of these political decisions. With immigration remaining a divisive topic, students at UMass Lowell continue to voice their concerns, advocating for policies that align with the country’s historical commitment to providing refuge and opportunity.
