Major US cities are the scene of protests against the immigration policy promoted by President Donald Trump. The rally is under the banner of “NO KINGS,” an open rejection of the government’s authoritarianism against the people.
The president’s response, marked by the tightening of measures to expel people from the country and the militarization of security, has been widely criticized for the risks to human rights, the economy, and political stability in the region. Among other follies, President Trump has ordered the deployment of the National Guard in California, the handing over to ICE data on millions of undocumented immigrants enrolled in Medicare, such as phone numbers, addresses, social networks, etc., and has increased the number of mass raids on workplaces, schools, and even businesses, which is considered an “extreme use of presidential powers.”
Despite the popular reaction, Trump criminalizes the protest, accusing them of being rioters and reaffirming his violent intention to expel undocumented immigrants, separating families, and even deporting U.S. citizens based on their appearance. This has obviously sparked growing opposition and achieved a breakthrough in unity among Latinos, African Americans, and Asians against the Republicans.
A movement in defense of migrant people that reached more than 2,000 demonstrations across the country on Saturday, June 14, with the mobilizations in Los Angeles and New York as epicenters. If it lacks bridges of political dialogue, it could quickly escalate into a violent confrontation between “white” citizens and the rest of the country.
The apparent “planned chaos” of the Trump administration does not appear to be improvised but rather an attempt to govern with “special powers” under the pretext of national security, weakening the rule of law and with serious humanitarian and economic consequences for the United States. However, an unexpected response is the response of the Latino community, especially the Mexican community, from artists, business owners, and social leaders to the Democratic mayors and governors whose electoral base is in these communities.
The conflict risks escalating and reveals the internal identity crisis that could destroy the United States from its core.