Three days into President Donald Trump’s second term, some immigrants in the city continue to fear the potential effects of various executive orders he signed Monday, a number of which target immigrant communities.

In Jackson Heights, 64% of the residents are foreign born. In Queens as a whole, nearly half the population is from another country. Some shared their concerns as one of Trump’s orders aims to end birthright citizenship.

What You Need To Know

  • Three days into President Trump’s second term, some immigrants in the city continue to fear the potential effects of various executive orders he signed Monday, a number of which target immigrant communities

  • In Jackson Heights, 64% of the residents are foreign born. In Queens as a whole, nearly half the population is from another country

  • Samuel, who came to New York from Colombia four years ago by plane and overstayed his visa, says he’s worried about his family and friends being targeted in mass deportations
  • He says his family would accept their fate if they had to and go back to Colombia with him and his sister, who is a U.S. citizen through birthright citizenship, but they envision a better future in the U.S.

“I don’t think it’s really fair. And it doesn’t really matter if the parents have papers or not. And it’s really concerning,” said Samuel, whose last name was withheld because he’s undocumented. He has a little sister who’s a U.S. citizen because she was born here.

Samuel came to New York from Colombia four years ago by plane and overstayed his visa. He says he’s worried about his family and friends being targeted in mass deportations under President Trump.

“Mostly my friends, they also don’t have papers,” he said. “So, you know, we are just trying to figure out a way to get to that path or being legal here. It’s gonna be really hard with Trump’s laws.”

Samuel is a senior in high school and says his family would accept their fate if they had to and go back to Colombia with him and his sister, but they envision a better future in the U.S.

“I have really high grades, and I am waiting for a scholarship for full tuition. So if that happens, it’ll be really a bum to leave all that behind,” he said.

Pabel Mosharaf came to New York from Bangladesh four years ago on a nonimmigration business visa, which is valid for up to 10 years. He’s been helping run the store Himalaya Na Zom for around three years. He says he’s generally in favor of the Trump administration carrying out mass deportations in the city.

“He [President Trump] wants to take action, those people, those who are criminals, so I think this is good,” Mosharaf said.

Mosharaf also supports stricter background checks at the border.

Another one of President Trump’s executive orders froze the refugee resettlement program. Mosharaf says he does support refugees and others who pose no threat to society staying in the country, even if they’re here illegally.

“Those who are innocent, those who want to live here legally, those who work here, and contribute America better, I think this government should give them opportunity,” Mosharaf said.

“Everyone is not really safe right now, so yeah, we just have to wait and see how it goes,” Samuel said.