Dear Donald Trump, 

I’ll never forget a moment with one of my closest friends, who’s been living in the U.S. for years. There was a big exam coming up, we were stressing so much, so I asked her if she wanted to study more so we could get a good grade on our exam, but I noticed something was different. She looked at me with sadness in her eyes and said, “I can’t.” I asked, “Why not?” And she said, “Because of ICE. My family wants me to be home.” At that moment, my heart sank. Here I was, trying to focus on my grade, and she was trying to hold it together, fearing being ripped away from her family at any moment overshadowed her ability to focus on a future we were supposed to be building together. We write this letter with a heart heavy with anger and sadness. As Mexicans, we cannot express the pain we feel seeing the fear and uncertainty that has been cast over my people due to your policies on deportation. It is hard to put into words the emotions that arise when we think about the thousands of families who live in constant fear of being torn apart, unable to return to their homes, their families, friends and especially their roots. You do not understand the magnitude of what it means for a person to be forced to leave the only home they’ve ever known. Many of us, like my own family and friends, have spent years, if not decades building lives in the U.S. Contributing to communities, raising children, working hard, and dreaming of a better future. Yet, reality is being thrown away and people need to face the cruel possibility of being sent back to a country that may no longer feel like home to them. We feel anguish knowing that my own people, my family, my friends, my neighbors live in constant fear of just being taken away as an obligation. To be told that you are no longer wanted, that your presence is a threat, is more than just an insult. It’s a wound. Every time we hear someone talk about the fear they feel, or see a family member in tears at the thought of being separated, we can’t help but feel both anger and sadness. Anger at the injustice of it all, and sadness for the pain that so many are going through right now. The fear of not being able to see your family again, the terror of being ripped away from your family and the place that has shaped your entire life, is something we wouldn’t wish on anyone. We ask you to understand that those you are targeting are not “criminals” nor “aliens” or “drug dealers”. We are hardworking, compassionate people who have found a sense of belonging here in the U.S. We’ve accomplished so much and done everything asked of us, raised families, work, paid taxes. You might see this as a debate, a call to action, a speech to be worldwide and believe that us Mexicans are nothing.. but for us it’s our lives, people should not be afraid of stepping outside and being deported in a flash. No one should live that way, but sadly people do because you are spoiled and never had encountered nor experienced the pain we deal with. 

Margarita Piceno, Zolei Alvarado.