When Donald Trump’s immigrant ban was implemented across the United States, people were outraged. Thousands showed up to airports across the country, protesting the president’s discriminatory order. My father is an Arab immigrant from Jordan, and we have many friends who are also immigrants. However, when it came to the 2016 election, many of them chose to vote for Donald Trump. I wondered how they made that decision, as well as if they believe he is living up to their expectations, so I interviewed one of our close family friends [he has asked to remain nameless for privacy reasons]. Below are the answers I received to the questions I asked:
Can you tell the story of how you came to America?
I was five years old, it was by force basically… you know, my mom and dad came here [from Jordan] and I came with them.
Would you say the process was easy?
It was scary. You’re going to a place where you don’t know anybody. You have no idea what people will be like, you don’t know their languages. I didn’t know anything.
Can you explain your decision to vote for Donald Trump in the 2016 election?
My decision to vote for Donald Trump was that I hated Hillary. I didn’t trust Hillary, and I blame that on the press. When Hillary went against Obama, the press went against her. And I think they forgot that we still remember what they said…I mean they tore her up. And now she’s this beautiful, wonderful person…I mean how do you go from a terrible person to that in eight years?
What are you hoping Trump will accomplish during his four years?
I am hoping that he does what he promised: more jobs, more pay, secure borders, taking down terrorists. I mean, I’m hoping for that. We all want that. No one wants terrorists running around us. Everyone wants a secure border that allows good people to come in, not [criminals].
At one point, Trump talked about reinstating the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System, or NSEERS. (Under NSEERS, certain “foreign citizens and nationals” in the US had to come into immigration offices for fingerprinting, photos, and interviews — and then had to check in again at designated intervals.) What are your thoughts on that?
I mean, it’s wrong. It should be done for everybody. There have been terrorists in the United States that weren’t Arabs. Timothy McVeigh wasn’t an Arab, and that was the first terrorist attack in Oklahoma City. If you just pick on one group of people and not all, then that’s wrong. There needs to be security for everyone.
Are you worried a Trump-presidency, considering his rhetoric, will bring more racist comments and hate crimes against Arab people, similar to how the country acted post 9/11?
Absolutely yes, and that’s one of many faults [Trump] has. And I’ve already started noticing it, so have you. But, how do you stop ISIS otherwise? If you get white people scared, then they do something. You know?
Ok, let’s talk about the Muslim ban. How do you feel about it?
Any ban against religion is wrong. It should have been well thought of and implemented not overnight. I think he needed to discuss it with experts and build a plan that will secure our nation rather than say everybody is a terrorist. Because what that does is bring an animosity and it will encourage good people to become terrorists. When you tell someone “you’re a terrorist, you’re a terrorist, you’re a terrorist”..what is he gonna do? Become a terrorist.
How do you feel about the way protesters reacted to it? Did you agree with it?
Yeah, of course I agree with it. I mean, it wasn’t a well thought out ban. It wasn’t. Imagine if they said “you can’t come into our country because you’re black”. Even more people would have been infuriated. You can’t just pick a country and say “because you’re this you can’t come into our country”. It was a stupid move on his part.
Do you worry airport travel will be more difficult now?
Oh, absolutely. It was already difficult.
How do you feel the Trump administration will do as a whole over these next four years? Are you hopeful he will accomplish the things you voted him in for?
Oh, everyone’s hopeful, right? But what I think he’s gonna do?..From what we’ve seen so far, he’s gonna do lousy. He’s not listening to people, he’s doing his own thing, he’s using Twitter…he’s not paying attention to what’s right and wrong. And it’s wrong.
Any other information you would like to add?
The big thing I’d like to add is give Trump a chance. Everyone’s picking on him..he’s only been in power for less than a month. No other president in my lifetime, I’m 53, had this much harassment from the press in less than a month! Give the guy a chance, let’s see what he can do!
