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Wednesday, Sep 30, 2026
Outside the box.
Undocumented Immigrants in the US Face Fear with Trump's Return
Dreamers and DACA recipients express anxiety over possible deportations and racial profiling
With Donald Trump returning to the White House, undocumented immigrants like Angel Palazuelos, a 22-year-old graduate student in Phoenix, Arizona, are experiencing high levels of fear and frustration.
Palazuelos is one of the 'Dreamers,' who came to the US as a child from Mexico and lacks citizenship.
Trump's past promises of mass deportations and his harsh rhetoric against illegal immigrants contribute to Palazuelos' anxieties about being deported and separated from his family.
Arizona, where Palazuelos resides, recently passed a law allowing state police to arrest undocumented immigrants, escalating fears of racial profiling.
Another undocumented immigrant, Jose Patino, who came to the US at six years old and works with Aliento, a community organization aiding undocumented immigrants, laments the potential end of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).
This Obama-era policy, which provided work permits and protections, is at risk again after Trump's previous attempts to dismantle it were blocked by the US Supreme Court.
Faced with the uncertainty of his status, Patino is contemplating moving to states like Colorado or California, where he feels safer from deportation.
Patino recalls the struggle of being undocumented, the inability to even apply for basic jobs, and fears regressing to that existence.
Despite their contributions to American society, Patino and others feel their efforts aren't valued, especially in light of some Hispanic voters supporting Trump, leading to divisions within families and communities.
Palazuelos is one of the 'Dreamers,' who came to the US as a child from Mexico and lacks citizenship.
Trump's past promises of mass deportations and his harsh rhetoric against illegal immigrants contribute to Palazuelos' anxieties about being deported and separated from his family.
Arizona, where Palazuelos resides, recently passed a law allowing state police to arrest undocumented immigrants, escalating fears of racial profiling.
Another undocumented immigrant, Jose Patino, who came to the US at six years old and works with Aliento, a community organization aiding undocumented immigrants, laments the potential end of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).
This Obama-era policy, which provided work permits and protections, is at risk again after Trump's previous attempts to dismantle it were blocked by the US Supreme Court.
Faced with the uncertainty of his status, Patino is contemplating moving to states like Colorado or California, where he feels safer from deportation.
Patino recalls the struggle of being undocumented, the inability to even apply for basic jobs, and fears regressing to that existence.
Despite their contributions to American society, Patino and others feel their efforts aren't valued, especially in light of some Hispanic voters supporting Trump, leading to divisions within families and communities.