An Outrage, Immigrants Not Welcome

The Statue of Liberty welcomes people to our shores.

"Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore."

The words engraved on the Statue of Liberty have long symbolized hope and welcome. They invite those who are struggling, seeking freedom, and escaping hardship to find refuge in America. Standing tall in New York Harbor, the statue greeted countless immigrants who arrived in search of a better life. It represents the ideals of acceptance and opportunity.

But today, those ideals seem to be fading. Instead of offering a place of safety and new beginnings, America is turning its back on many who come seeking help, and this is especially true for Venezuelan immigrants. Under Trump's policies, they are being hunted down as if they are all criminals. It is true that among the immigrants, there are gang members and individuals with criminal records. The United States has a right and a responsibility to protect its people from crime. But what is happening now goes far beyond that. Instead of targeting criminals, the government is treating all undocumented immigrants as if they are dangerous without looking at their circumstances.

When I was an elementary school student in New York City, our class took a trip to see the Statue of Liberty. I remember the excitement of taking the ferry across the water. The best part was climbing the narrow stairs inside the statue to reach the top. From there, we could see all of Manhattan in the distance. One part of the statue, the arm holding the torch, was closed to visitors. We were told it was unsafe to climb. Still, it was an unforgettable trip, made even more meaningful by the thought that my grandparents had once sailed past that very statue on their way to America. Like so many others, these immigrants had come here with dreams of building a new life.

Now, the government agency known as ICE—Immigration and Customs Enforcement—is leading the effort to arrest and deport Venezuelan immigrants. They are searching for those who have entered the country without legal documentation, rounding them up, and sending them away. For many of these people, returning to Venezuela is difficult and dangerous. They fled their country because of poverty, political violence, and a lack of necessities like food and medicine. Instead of being treated with dignity, they are being forced back into the very suffering they risked everything to escape.

America has always been a country shaped by immigrants. The Statue of Liberty is more than just a monument. It reminds us of America's promise to the world of freedom, hope, and a chance at a better life. If we turn our backs on that promise now, what does that say about the nation we have become?

This is the famous inscription engraved on the Statue of Liberty. It stands in stark contrast to Trump's policy regarding Venezuelan immigrants. The people are being hunted as though they are all criminals. Yes, there are some gang members among the immigrants. Venezuelan criminals are being sought, and many have been arrested. The problem is that Trump's policy is targeting every illegal immigrant.

When I was an elementary school student in New York City, our classes visited the statue. We took the ferry to Liberty Island. I remember what fun it was to take that ferry ride. The best part of the trip was climbing the narrow stairs to the top of the statue and looking at Manhattan Island from a distance. Sadly, the door to the steps into the arm of the statue was locked. We were told that it was unsafe to climb into the arm.

But the entire trip was exciting. After all, my grandparents and some of my grandparents sailed past the welcoming statue. My family has lived in America for five generations. I doubt that the presidency and political parties resembled what is now happening.