Since its founding, the United State has been considered a “nation of immigrants.” The country is replete with stories of people arriving through Ellis Island in New York or finding their way to America after being forced to flee their native homeland due to life-threatening circumstances. And while the country has at times struggled with it policies on immigration, those problems have become a hot-button topic as the new presidential administration establishes itself in leadership in Washington D.C.
Within days of taking the oath of office, President Donald Trump began signing executive orders to address what he considered one of the most significant issues facing the U.S. — illegal immigration and the threat of terrorism. The orders heavily restricted travel of people traveling from seven majority Muslim countries and also cracked down on undocumented immigrants living in the United States.
The measures received harsh criticism from many, who claimed the measure unfairly targeted certain groups, while supporters applauded the orders as the first steps of make the country safer. But who are the people these executive orders affected? On this episode of the Voices of Reason podcast, Amy and I discuss these issues with two naturalized American citizens who emigrated to the U.S. as children — one from a refugee camp in Somalia, the other from Mexico.
Join us as we hear Fatima Dirie, refugee liaison for the Salt Lake City Mayor’s office, and Luis Garza, executive director of Communities United — an organization advocating for Latino empowerment in Utah, tell their stories of life as immigrants to the Land of Liberty.
