ORLANDO, Fla. – President Trump signed dozens of executive orders on his first day in office, with many focusing on immigration and gender politics.
President Trump quickly moved to undo many Biden-era policies, emphasizing his campaign promises. Just moments after being sworn in, he said he would halt illegal immigration. That night, he signed several executive orders, including declaring a national emergency at the southern border, resuming the construction of the border wall, and suspending the U.S. refugee admissions program.
William Diaz, founder of Casa de Venezuela in Orlando, expressed concern over these actions.
“Well, it is too sad that the President is coming with those intentions,” Diaz said.
[EXCLUSIVE: Become a News 6 Insider (it’s FREE) | PINIT! Share your photos]
Diaz emphasized that the push to hurt immigrants is misguided, as they are primarily people seeking a better life.
“You got people that have bad behavior from England, from Spain, from Japan, from every country. And when you go to see the figures, you’ll find out that the percentage of, illegal immigrants or immigrants [committing crimes] in general, is very, very, very low,” he said.
President Trump also signed an order to change birthright citizenship requirements; a constitutional right protected under the 14th Amendment. The order states that a person born in the U.S. won’t receive citizenship if their mother was “unlawfully present” and the father was not a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident. Diaz believes this will not succeed.
“The Constitution of the United States is so clear, and I don’t think he’s going to have any success on that,” he said.
During his inaugural speech, President Trump also addressed the LGBTQ community.
“As of today, it will henceforth be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders, male and female,” Trump said.
Yasmin Flasterstein, co-founder and executive director of Peer Support Space, a local mental health support group that focuses on marginalized communities, found the president putting this on his day one agenda unsettling.
“I think that the executive order made it really clear that this new administration’s going to be attacking trans community,” Flasterstein said.
Despite the challenges, both Diaz and Flasterstein remain hopeful and will continue to stand up for these communities.
“We’re going to fight for all those guys that have been good citizens that are here working,” Diaz said.
“No law, executive order, or amount of hate is going to change the fact that trans people exist and always have existed,” Flasterstein said.
“You know, 12% of LGBTQ plus youth last year attempted suicide, didn’t think about it, attempted suicide and 90% say that their well-being is being impacted by what is going on. So it doesn’t take understanding it to just have compassion.”
To support the transgender community during this time, Peer Support Space will be making care packages next month.
This event will take place from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 7 in Orlando. For safety, they are asking those who want to join to email mary@peersupportspace.org for the address.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily:
