Donald Trump’s stunning win in the presidential election, paired with a Republican-controlled Congress, could bring change to national policy, particularly immigration reform.
Trump had said during his campaign that he will build a wall along the Mexican border, crack down on undocumented immigrants and limit the number of refugees admitted into the country.
Trump also threatened to prohibit non-American Muslims from entering the United States and later called for “extreme vetting” of potential immigrants.
With tears in her eyes, Zara Abbas, a Pakistani Muslim living in Washington, D.C., said she is uncertain about her future here after Trump’s victory.
“I have another year left in law school and I am not sure if I will be staying because I won’t know what the situation will be like with our embassies and everything else,” said Abbas.
Abbas, 21, is among those thinking about immigration policies in the new administration.
Antoi Ngyuen, 32, and Santha Ngyuen, 30, both Vietnamese-American residents of Seattle, Washington, said they agree with president-elect Donald Trump’s immigration policies and plans to build a wall on the Mexican border.
Anjana Mithai, 50, a teacher in Mumbai, India, said it is too early to form an opinion on president-elect Donald Trump’s immigration policies. “He’s said a lot but we have to wait and see. I do hope he works with the allied countries,” said Mithai.
Ricardo Torres, 38, is from Nicaraguan and now an American citizen. The 38-year-old said he is worried for his fiancé Maria José. Torres said she will try to immigrate to the United States after their marriage but Torres is sure what will happen. Torres said he believes Trump’s actions will catch up with him. “He will be impeached, just wait and see.”
“Trump is exaggerating the fear of Muslims and this is adding to the immigration problems,” said Nader Johnson 45, a videographer for a Lebanese news agency. “But I can say I understand him.”
Tiffany Smooth, 34, of Atlanta, Georgia, said she is sad to see the Obama family leave the White House. “It’s a sad change of representation,” said Smooth. Smooth said she is disappointed in Trump’s immigration policy and believes there should be a more moderate plan that doesn’t include banning a race or building a wall. “We can come to some terms not to divide families,” said Smooth, “For those who are here illegally, there should be a smoother process than building a wall, a more diplomatic way.”
Chris Russo, a student at George Washington University, said he is indifferent to election results. He said Trump’s immigration policies are not a big concern for him not being an immigrant. He believes the United States has bigger problems to tackle.
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