Md. Immigrants Tell WJZ: We Live In Fear Of Trump's America
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- The lives of millions of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. hang in the balance.
WJZ's Mary Bubala spoke with immigrants living in Maryland, Isabel and Armando, who say they don't know what's next for them when Donald Trump takes office in January.
Millions who voted for Trump support his tough stance on immigration. And they say that's troubling for them.
"I really feel fear," Isabel says.
"Mr. Trump, he send me back to my country," Armando says. "That is really, really not fair for human rights. That is really sad for me and many families."
Armando came to the U.S. 11 years ago to escape violence in Guatemala. Isabel came from Honduras 15 years ago for the same reason. She has four children, two of whom were born here.
Armando and Isabel say they contribute to their communities and want to come out of the shadows.
Armando calls become a citizen his dream. "Because now I feel this is my country," he said. "We have a broke immigration system."
Experts say it can take a decade or more to become a citizen because of that system.
If those in the U.S. illegally were, indeed, deported, Isabel, her husband and her oldest son would have to leave. Two of her children would be able to stay in the states.
Armando is in a similar situation.
"I have a 3-year-old son, he is my life, he has citizenship and I want to stay with him."
Isabel speaks for both of them when she says: "We come to this country because we believe in this country. Look at us like people. We have families, we have dreams. We want to make America great, too."
A recent report found that immigrants make up about 15 percent of the population in Maryland. Nationwide, they've contributed 9 billion in taxes.
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