PRESS STATEMENT: Aliento Reaffirms Commitment To Dreamers And Students From Mixed-status Families.
PHOENIX, AZ – Today, as Donald J. Trump officially became the 47th president of the U.S., Aliento reaffirms our unwavering commitment to stand with Dreamers and students from mixed-status families in Arizona and across the nation.
Today, as he addressed the nation, he spoke at length about executive orders that will impact immigration and our nation. His first announcement was to declare a national emergency on the Southern Border, reinstate the "Remain in Mexico" policy, end the practice of catch and release, deploy troops to address what he described as an “invasion,” designate cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, and invoke the Alien Enemies Act of 1798.
Aliento’s Founder and CEO, Reyna E. Montoya, released the following statement:
“After watching the inaugural address by President Trump, it is clear that immigration continues to be his number one priority. As an organization that invests in the education and well-being of Dreamers and children of undocumented immigrants, it is deeply worrisome that he has declared to enact the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 and wants to End Brightright Citizenship. Our students are American in every single way except on paper. Mixed-status families are key to our economy; they pay taxes, and more than 2/3 of undocumented Americans have been living and contributing to our great nation for over a decade.
Here in Arizona, undocumented Arizonans make up 4% of the population, contributing $1.9 billion in taxes annually and wielding $7.2 billion in spending power.[1] These numbers, reported by the American Immigration Council, testify to immigrants' vital role in strengthening our economy and communities.
Today, we must remember that these numbers are real human beings. They are moms and dads who have sacrificed everything for their children to earn a higher education, the students who carry the weight of uncertainty while pursuing their dreams, and the families who refuse to give up hope in the face of adversity.
As the Trump administration prepares to conduct mass immigration operations near schools, churches, and hospitals where Arizona families traditionally feel safe and welcome, we must not forget the economic and social contributions that the more than 500,000 mixed-status families make to Arizona. We must not let fear and worry stop good American people from acting. We must ensure that children and their families will not be separated on their way to school.
To all Dreamers, children of undocumented immigrants, and mixed-status families: we see you, and we stand with you. Even when our voices shake, we will still speak up. This is a call to all Americans who still believe in the promise of America — that if you work hard, get an education, pay taxes, and help your community, you should not be punished but embraced. We are counting on good people of faith to follow the legacy of MLK Jr. and to speak up in the wake of injustices and ensure our students can continue to go to school without the fear of their schools being raided and their parents getting deported.”
American Immigration Council. “Immigrants in Arizona,” https://map.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/locations/arizona/. Accessed January 20, 2025.
