Since the inauguration of Donald J. Trump as the 45th President of the United States on January 20, 2024, minority communities across the nation have endured unprecedented levels of fear, uncertainty, and suffering. His past administration’s immigration policies ( January 2017-January 2021), often described as “brutal” by human rights advocates, have left a lasting scar on the fabric of American society. A damning report by The Center for Human Rights of the Child at Loyola School of Law, in collaboration with the American Immigration Council, reveals the extent of the damage wrought by Trump’s policies, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Under the guise of public health protection, the Trump administration weaponized an obscure 1944 statute, Title 42, to expel thousands of unaccompanied migrant children without due process. From March to November 2020, nearly 16,000 children were summarily expelled under this policy, often left in extreme danger and without safety plans for their care. The practice was only halted by a court injunction, but the damage had already been done. Critics argue that this was not about public health but about dismantling protections for vulnerable children under the rule of law.
While some voters dismissed Trump’s campaign rhetoric as mere bluster, the reality of his presidency proved far worse. Families in red states, particularly in border regions like Texas, are now grappling with the fallout. According to the Texas Tribune, a bone chilling letter from the Alice Independent School District in South Texas sent shockwaves through a South Texas community. The letter warned parents that U.S. Border Patrol agents might board school buses to check the immigration status of students traveling for extracurricular activities.
“We strongly encourage families to be aware of the potential implications of these encounters,” wrote Superintendent Anysia Trevino. “If a student is found to be without proper documentation, they may be removed from the bus, detained, and possibly deported under current immigration policies.”
The letter also warned that lying about citizenship status could result in a permanent bar to future U.S. citizenship. The district even considered assigning chaperones to follow school buses in separate vehicles in case students were detained.
The letter was later removed from the district’s website and social media, but the damage was done. U.S. Border Patrol Chief Mike Banks quickly denied the claims, calling the idea of targeting school buses “absurd.” However, his reassurance did little to quell the growing fear among immigrant families.
This incident is just one example of the broader erosion of trust and safety under Trump’s immigration policies. The administration also scrapped a longstanding practice that prevented immigration agents from entering public schools, health care facilities, and places of worship to arrest undocumented immigrants. This shift has left many families living in constant fear of raids and separation.
The Alice Independent School District, which serves a student population that is 92% Hispanic, is now at the epicenter of this crisis. The potential consequences are catastrophic, with advocates warning of a surge in orphaned children and broken families.
As the nation reflects on the Trump presidency, the question remains: how many more families will suffer before America confronts the human cost of its immigration policies? For minority communities, the road ahead is fraught with fear, uncertainty, and the lingering shadow of Trump’s brutal legacy.
