Two years ago, I met with members of one of AFSC’s local peace networks in one of the more dangerous neighborhoods of San Salvador, El Salvador. I asked the group—mostly teenagers—to raise their hands if they had a family member who had migrated to the United States. Almost every hand went up.

I wasn’t surprised. I’ve heard from our staff in El Salvador about the violence, inequality, and lack of opportunity facing much of the country.

Last week, Foreign Policy published a draft report from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that indicated the Trump administration plans to undertake long-term surveillance of Sunni Muslim immigrants in the United States. The report identified a broad group of individuals—including permanent residents and U.S. citizens—that DHS considers “vulnerable to terrorist narratives.” 

Steven Sacco is an attorney practicing in the areas of immigration and law and public benefits law in New York City. Sacco is interested in challenging the borders from human rights and critical race theory perspectives.

Note: Ravi Ragbir, Immigrant rights activist, is one of many who was detained this year. He has since received an overwhelming amount of support with vigils, protests and rallies held for him. It is this and suing the federal government that made it possible for Ravi to win a temporary stay of removal. Below is Steven Sacco's message offered at one of those rallies in support of Ravi.

The president’s budget is a statement of principles and priorities, articulating an administration’s vision for the whole of government and a starting place for the annual appropriations process. But the Trump administration’s proposed FY19 budget, released earlier this week, reads like a nightmare for most of us.

The budget includes large increases for immigration enforcement and for the military, and sweeping cuts to education, health care, food assistance, and other valuable social programs that help millions in the U.S. 

Lori Fernald Khamala is the director of the North Carolina Immigrant Rights Program for the American Friends Service Committee and also serves as the coordinator of AFSC’s Sanctuary Everywhere initiative.

Maria Alcivar recently served as a Lang Fellow with AFSC’s Immigrant Rights Program in Des Moines. She is currently a full-time student in the Human Development and Family Studies Ph.D. Program at Iowa State.