Diana Cruz, 44, was born and raised in Chicago and converted to Islam 17 years ago. She’s Mexican on her mother’s side and Puerto Rican on her father’s, volunteers as the administrative coordinator in Chicago for Islam in Spanish, and is working on a degree in Islamic Studies through Mishkah University. Here she describes what it’s been like to witness the impact of anti-immigrant policies under the Donald Trump administration.
I feel that Trump administration is targeting both of my communities. Trump’s deportation orders seem focused on criminalizing Latinos—these policies are unconstitutional and biased. The U.S. has immigrants from other parts of the world who are here legally and illegally who have committed crimes as well. What Trump is doing is trying to blame a group of people to say, “They’re taking your jobs.” He’s very manipulative. He knows what to hit on and what to say to get his way.
I think people need to stop only watching the news and visit an Islamic center. Call the nearest Islamic center in your area or CAIR [the Council on American Islamic Relations] or Gain Peace. For the Latino community, contact Islam in Spanish—we have branches and are in contact with many Islamic centers nationwide.
