In a storm of executive orders, the first week of Donald Trump’s second term has come to a close. On Jan. 20 alone, President Trump signed 26 executive orders, more than any other president on their first day.
From renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, to raising prescription drug prices to making a bid to end birthright citizenship, Trump has wasted no time in reversing precedents that have been the law of the land for decades. While it is easy to become disheartened or angry at the atrocities being committed by this new administration, it is important to not let this fear immobilize you. This is exactly what fuels tyrants such as President Trump.
Perhaps the most notable and most imminently dangerous policy of this administration is their position on immigration. More specifically, the lengths to which they will go to expel those they deem “un-American.”
The Trump administration has promised to deport any and all undocumented migrants. This plan will be executed by utilizing not only Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), but also the US military if it is deemed necessary.
The largest cities in the U.S. have been listed as targets for mass deportations. Including but not limited to: Chicago, Los Angeles and New York City, with the governors of each of these states and more coming out and stating that they will not comply with federal forces who enter their states with the intent of rounding up and expelling migrants.
Not only is this hypocritical coming from the “party of small government,” but the justice system has already stepped in, deeming President Trump’s order to end birthright citizenship “blatantly unconstitutional.”
Let the words of Trump not persuade you that this is what’s right for the country, it is apparent that American preservation is not their motive. Despite distancing himself from the infamous Project 2025 on the campaign trail, the similarities between recent executive orders and the “Presidential Transition Project” cannot be disregarded.
President Trump and his loyal henchmen do not care about improving your quality of life. They only care about creating a fascist theocracy rooted in white nationalism and white supremacy with Elon Musk and other technocrats becoming the poster boys for this alt-right movement inspired by Project 2025.
It is now more important than ever to refuse to be complicit to the atrocities happening before your very eyes. Remember that if you are a bystander, you are no better than the perpetrator.
If you are reading this and consider yourself “apolitical” or try to stay out of politics, now is not the time for comfort.
Push yourself to understand what is happening around you and educate yourself to the point where you cannot ignore it. The depoliticization of the American people has led us to where we are today: a country in which one doesn’t even bat an eye when mass deportations are occurring in their neighborhood.
Despite how it may seem, we are far from doomed. The American people, when banded together, when aware, are strong. We defeated fascism once, we can sure as hell do it again.
Jackson Small is a columnist. Contact him at [email protected].