Immigration Policies in the Eyes of HSAS Students
- Camille Dillon-Eirich and Veronica Mollod
- 8 hours ago
- 3 min read
Camille Dillon-Eirich, Grade 10, Staff Writer and Veronica Mollod, Grade 11, Current Events Editor
The New York Times has reported that 500,000 individuals have been deported by President Donald Trump in his second term. United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity has been a concern for many, such as immigrant individuals from the High School of American Studies (HSAS) community, this past year.
Tsulaneyah Himes (‘28) says she does not believe Trump's treatment of immigrants is fair, but it “falls within…his campaign promises.” She believes this “unethical” policy of “rip[ping] families apart and harrass[ing] citizens” is done “immorally.”
Clara Bonfili (‘26), adds that the policies are “deeply unfair” to those who may be perceived to be undocumented by ICE, regardless of actual status; this is “racial profiling.” She also notes that Trump is “going beyond his campaign promises” by ignoring judges’ immigration orders.
Even though not all of her family are immigrants, Himes says, “We’re scared to travel outside the state or go anywhere without our IDs. My community…used to be bustling [but] seems to be dying down.”
Many immigrants and their families have stories reflecting these experiences, including Mr. Peña, who “came to the U.S. at 15 years old…it was shocking. I would cry because I didn’t know the language.”
Eleonora Sarukhanishvili (‘29) says, “both of my parents are immigrants from Eastern Europe, so I understand the difficulty, but thankfully we don’t go through anything as severe [as immigrants now].”
Common Sense talked to an expert source who helps make some sense of such immigrant stories. Clay Greenberg, who runs an immigration law firm that serves 60 clients, says Trump’s policies (and their implementation) have created “uncertainty” and made it harder to provide effective counsel.
Some clients are worse off. With the situation in Venezuela, some Venezuelans are “confused” about their status, although for most, it hasn’t changed: “there is no path” to remain in America.
Greenberg is also concerned about the detention of spouses of citizens who overstayed visas, calling it “terrible” and “against the spirit of the Immigration and Nationality Act.”
He says Trump is “exploit[ing] a glitch” in the INA: it has two seemingly contradictory sections about the removal of those who overstay visas and protection of spouses of citizens who do the same. Greenberg says most presidents choose only to enforce the latter. Trump, though, has supported family separation.
Greenberg has seen less clients applying for green cards, especially “those with complicated histories.”
However, others are trying to resolve their situations before new changes are implemented or they’re deported.
Greenberg says if they’re deported to other nations with possible “mistreatment,” that third country may then send them to their origin country, even though they left it “due to fear of persecution.” This is illegal under international law.
“Allowing people to legally come here is better than closing the border or banning some countries from entering, ” says Mr. Peña. He would prefer an effective system to an “open border to every immigrant who needed asylum.”
Renee Kovelsky (‘27), disagrees: “Just let everybody in,” she says, “open immigration is the best policy…to bring…a sense of global community.”
Mr. Peña notes that he’s “open and vocal” about having tried to “explain” to conservative family members why they shouldn’t have voted for Trump, but it was to no avail; everyone has “their own ways of thinking.”
HSAS students interviewed seem to disapprove of the current treatment of immigrants. Sarukhanishvili says of the policies, “It’s sad to see…how everyone is being split apart.”
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