International students share post-election fears

International students at Texas A&M University-San Antonio stand in limbo wondering what will come after President-Elect Donald J. Trump takes office; expectations of continued hostility towards immigrants float next to the promise for nothing but justice.

International students attend Texas A&M University-San Antonio under a variety of circumstances.

At A&M-San Antonio there are 55 students under Senate Bill 1528, Deffered Action of Childhood Arrivals (DACA) or the DREAMER Act, 18 international faculty members, 89 permanent resident students and 35 international student on visa. Out of these, 197 students and faculty the office of international affairs works directly with only 108.

Senate Bill 1528, passed in 2005, allows citizens; permanent residents and certain non-immigrants students to claim Texas residency. It also allows international students to file an affidavit with the institution indicating his/her intent to apply for permanent resident status for higher education purposes.

All students under SB 1528, DACA or the DREAMER Act need to meet a list of requirements to be allowed in-state tuition and enrollment.

Director of International Affairs, Sylvia Medel, specifies how the office of International Affairs helps all kinds of international students.

“International student doesn’t mean undocumented, there are several students with residency or different types of visas,” Medel said.

After the election, she noticed how there was a widespread concern “as to where the country is headed,” among many students.

Medel, gave immigration advice to those who expressed fears and directed them to the office of Student Counseling and Wellness services.

International student specialist, Banan Ali, received several students who were worried and feared what was going to happen to their status with new President-Elect Trump.

The most important thing was to, “do the normal, attend classes,” Ali said.

Director of Counseling and Wellness, Rachel Lutz, noticed an, “increase in students talking about the election,” not just international students.

History junior Maggie Ikpe, an immigrant from Nigeria, became a U.S. citizen a few years ago after a 14-year process.

Ikpe recalls the reason she came to the U.S.: “I wanted to be American.”

Ikpe first came to America seeking better opportunities and after many years of living in the U.S. she believes that this country, “appears to be welcoming; appears, keyword,” more than it actually has been to her.

Concerning the future with President-Elect Trump she thinks it’s hard to tell how society will be until he takes office. There is definitely fear of what will happen because, “what the candidate stands for is really important,” she said.

After President-Elect Donald Trump’s campaign and some of his supporters’ behavior she is concerned that racism and white supremacy ideals won.

Communications senior Christopher Vazquez, Trump supporter, was relieved by Trump’s victory and believes there is not any racist ideals being promoted.

“Trump is for everyone because he definitely matches what America was founded on. A country that ensures that the world’s a safer place,” Vazquez said.

Vazquez does not think all international students worry about the new President-Elect, “there’s many minorities that voted for Trump,” he said.

Neither Ikpe nor Vazquez have experienced any altercations among classmates.

Ikpe avoids debates among her classmates but talks about it between friends with whom she shares values. The negative stigma attached to immigrants makes them hesitant to admit they are in fact immigrants, she said.

To avoid discrimination, “students try very hard to assimilate; change their identity,” she said. The one thing having obtained citizenship doesn’t change is, “the individual’s perception of me; the way I’m treated hasn’t changed” she added.

Interaction with Trump supporters is avoided by Ikpe and the people she considered friends who support Trump she doesn’t talk to anymore.

“You can’t say you’re my friend and support what Trump stands for; I don’t think Trump supporters share my values” she said. Ikpe’s fear nowadays is that, “if I don’t view things the way Americans see things, it’s used against me.”

It hasn’t been too hard for Vasquez, whom on the other hand continues to be friends with people who supported Hillary Clinton all through the campaign.

“They were definitely disappointed, but they found that the best way to move on was to fulfill their civic duty and support their president,” he said.