As of January 20th, 2025, Donald Trump is the inaugurated president of the United States, enforcing many of his Republican policies on immigrant-filled areas like the Bronx. However, although many citizens support Trump and his policies, his new laws may cause damage to 218’s community.
In the New York area, mostly concentrated in the Bronx, there are over 400,000 undocumented immigrants living, working, and supporting the economy. Several of these people are not who Trump has stated they are–criminals; murderers, robbers, child molesters, arsonists–and there are several of these felons among the almost half-million undocumented immigrants in the U.S. But many illegal immigrants are the ones you see and talk to everyday. The bodega cashier, the man selling tajin mangoes on the street, the street janitor, or even some of your own family members and friends can be undocumented.
The fear this new policy has stemmed in neighborhoods like ours that have not just been affecting our adults and workers, but our children. Out of fear of deportation, many parents have taken their children out of school. Many immigrants come from third-world countries that have depleted economies and low funding for education. The main reason that many of these people migrate is to find a better life for themselves and their families. If they are deported, there is a much higher probability of them losing the chance for an education. According to the U.S census, over 88% of hispanic immigrants alone have earned at least a high school diploma or an associate’s degree from an American educational institution.
Not only that, but Trump’s impact on the economy will negatively affect our borough and community. According to ABC News on February 25th, 2025, the average price of eggs has increased from 7.45$ for a dozen in 2024, to 15.50$ in 2025. What’s worse is that Trump’s campaign promised to aid our economy, especially lowering prices of necessities like eggs, fresh fruit & vegetables, and gasoline/petrol. There are many people in our area, such as the elderly, who rely on these kinds of food products to maintain their health, similar to others who have to drive long distances to and from work and lose thousands of dollars a year due to extraordinarily high gas prices.
Not to mention how President Trump has approved Project 2025, which according to the official website will defund extracurricular educational programs, such as WhedCo. Many 218 students and parents rely on WhedCo to supervise students between the hours of 2:20-5:00 PM. Imagine if WhedCo was suddenly withdrawn from 218 entirely. Keith Hicks, Vice President of programs at WhedCo quotes: “We have certain students who need special programs that depend on federal funding, and our president’s budget cuts to the Department of Education may end these programs for our city’s children.” Hundreds of our students would have to find somewhere to stay safely until they can return to their parents, their homes, practice, or even their parent’s jobs. Public transportation, especially after four PM, is dangerous for pre-teens and teenagers because of violent crime, especially assault and homicide. According to the 44th precinct’s crime stats of March 24th through March 30th, crimes like murder, assault, and robbery have increased by an average of ten percent. Ms. Joseph, a sewing instructor at WhedCo states: “WhedCo provides a home for kids at school, and taking it away would be like taking away a piece of our community.”
