These days as a digital content creator, I feel like every time I open up any social media app, I’m in a twisted, weird horror film, watching people’s lives being torn apart across the world in real time. From countless videos of ice raids stampeding through neighborhoods throughout the nation or the echoes of children crying out for their parents as they watch them being detained, it’s deeply uncomfortable to witness so much trauma, even outside of the immigration landscape.
In addition to that, xenophobia has continued to heighten. Every week, there’s a new argument going viral and it’s like tuning into another harsh reality show of people arguing on the internet on topics such as:
- What defines an “illegal” person and why can’t immigrants do it the “right way”
- Who is to blame for Trump’s re-election
- American citizens justifying how immigration is not their fight
Occasionally, I listen to other people’s perspectives because a lot of the time, their misdirected anger is due to being uninformed, coping with their own intergenerational trauma and/or being a victim of right-wing propaganda. Somehow, we can’t seem to realize we all have the same enemy: white supremacy. It’s a challenge maintaining emotional stability in this space because the xenophobic, racist and anti-black commentary is disgusting, but we need to in order to continue advocating and supporting our community members, especially those who are direct victims to this madness. However, I would be lying to you if I didn’t admit that the hate I see and hear, still breaks my heart.
Last Friday, June 27th, the Trump administration decided to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian nationals living in the United States, pushing the new termination date to September 2nd, 2025. Earlier this week, the federal court has since reinstated the prior termination date for Haitian TPS holders but the Trump administration plans to appeal it. Before this recent news, my social media feed was flooded with breaking news, videos of more I.C.E. raids, ignorant people celebrating and Haitians across the nation feeling overwhelmed, disappointed, angry and numb like I do. As the daughter of Haitian immigrants, I have experienced and witnessed over my lifetime how racist, cruel and discriminatory the world has treated Haiti and Haitians ever since we became the first Black nation to gain our independence in 1804. So unfortunately, I wasn’t surprised by the decision but I am emotional –so emotional, because I can’t stop thinking about how this will deeply impact half a million Haitians who came to the United States, desperately looking for safety.
Safety has become a word I think about often lately, especially in these times when we’re watching so many atrocities happen at once. From time to time, personal stories come across my social media feed of immigrants and family members of immigrants, sharing why they migrated to the United States and often also sharing how obtaining citizenship has been a very challenging task because of how complex, expensive and drawn-out the immigration process and system is. Nonetheless, they stay, they work really hard, they pay taxes and now they live in more fear because their safety has been compromised by the many heartless and unjust actions of the Trump administration. I can’t stop thinking about all of the sacrifices and various forms of trauma TPS holders experienced, on their journey to the states alone, just to hopefully find safety. Now that temporary safety is being jeopardized, on purpose, just so Trump can fulfill his promise of deporting as many Black & Brown immigrants (and soon, American citizens) without due process, just to convert America into a fascist country.
On social media, I often see people arguing on why can’t immigrants just “go back home” and “fix their own countries.” People often don’t know the history of U.S. imperialism in countries such as Haiti, Venezuela and El Salvador. The United States involvement in other countries often ruins that country’s political landscape, economy, and social structures, which causes people from those countries to migrate because they are searching for safety.
Safety isn’t just something that is being stripped away from TPS holders and the undocumented community, it’s also a huge concern for other marginalized groups with the threat of this “Big Beautiful Bill,” that will rip away healthcare coverage for millions of Americans, cut food assistance for millions of Americans and add trillions of dollars to the national debt. Most people who live in the United States are struggling to buy groceries, afford health insurance and find a job, your safety is also at risk. You can read about how this “Big Beautiful Bill,” would continue to devastate the immigrant community here. Moreover, if you thought this wasn’t your fight, you are incorrect. These grand actions aren’t just about policy. They are about dehumanization.
It’s dehumanizing to detain parents at a graduation ceremony in front of their children. It’s dehumanizing to abduct and lock up thousands of men, the majority without any criminal records, at a El Salvador mega prison. And it’s dehumanizing to revoke temporary safety for 500,000 Haitian nationals who are at risk of facing violence, homelessness, and life-threatening instability in Haiti at this moment. That dehumanization could soon be at your door!
On July 1st, A New York federal court ruled that the early termination of TPS for Haiti was unlawful and that TPS for Haiti is now restored until February 2026. This gave me and many others a moment of hope, but the Trump Administration has announced it will appeal this decision, so unfortunately this could still change. I’m praying that it won’t. I’m praying that the nearly 15,000 estimated local TPS holders in Massachusetts and thousands of other Haitian TPS holders can hold on to their legal status, their work permits and their safety for a little longer and I extend that prayer to all TPS holders and undocumented individuals who deserve to have safety too.
Even in these moments where despair, helplessness and stress can make us all feel numb, we as a collective must continue to advocate, protect and fight for our rights and the rights of those who can’t be at the frontlines. This is not just an immigration issue or a Black & Brown issue, it’s a human issue. Being a bystander in these times will not save you from the hefty consequences ahead. There are so many forms of advocacy you can participate in. If you’re feeling emotional these days and overwhelmed, trust me I get it but it also means you’re alive, you’re aware and you can do something about it, even if it’s as small as putting good energy into the universe, even if it’s as big as supporting your immigrant community members. You can also share Know Your Rights information and join us for our upcoming summer training series, volunteer opportunities and learn how you can get involved with other immigrant-led organizations who are supporting our immigrant communities. I hope that the next six months of this year and moving forward, will inspire and lead us all to be more brave and more intentional in supporting one another.
In solidarity,
Farah Jeune
Communications Specialist, MIRA Coalition