In the midst of some of the highest political tension Americans have felt in years, locals gathered outside the Kerr County Courthouse Saturday afternoon for a demonstration aimed at supporting undocumented immigrants within the community.
United States President Donald Trump’s inauguration for his second term was Jan. 20, and was swiftly followed by the signing of nearly 40 executive orders, including a mass deportation effort. While supporters of the president viewed this as swift action on campaign promises, others felt it was a misuse of power that disadvantaged people without documentation and their families, as was verbalized at Saturday’s protest rally.
With political tensions heightened and media sensationalized, many Americans can feel at odds with their neighbor, a sentiment that sparked a group of Hill Country social workers to organize the local rally.
“ As a social worker in a school, I am seeing firsthand how scared our students are. We have teenagers who have lived here their whole lives, but maybe they’re still undocumented because they came here when they were six months old – they know no other home,” said Sarah Salinas, a protest organizer.
One of the main executive orders that rallied the group of school social workers together to lead this demonstration was the Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship order, which is set to end birthright citizenship from people whose parents were undocumented.
“I hear from children who are documented, but their parents are undocumented. They are terrified to go to school. They worry that when they get home, their parents aren’t going to be there,” Salinas said.
Displaying their support for immigrants rights, the event that began with a small group of social workers grew to have around 170 participants at one point, many being the very youth social workers like Salinas interact with. One young protestor, Yoselin Rosales, shared why she showed her support.
“ My parents came out here to give me a better life, they left their life to be here. I’m here to speak for the people who can’t speak. Half of our construction workers here in Texas are immigrants and I just want to help them stay here and give them a better chance at life too,” said Rosales.
Despite the recent social strain felt around politics, protest organizers kept their message calling for unity and humanity above all. With a crowd consisting of educators, students, immigrants and their families, the rally began at 2 p.m. and still had a small group of supporters into the early evening.
“ Overwhelmingly, we’re here because we want to show the immigrants in our community that they are loved, that they are welcome, that they are safe. Everyone who speaks so hatefully online does not speak for all of us,” said Salinas.
For more information regarding recent legislation affecting immigration and citizen status, visit the official White House website at www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions.