Amy (from the Smoke Signal): First question: how have the recent immigration enforcement changes impacted you if there were any impacts?
W.W.: I think it’s like if the government forbids immigration, …the price of labor force will be increased because of less labor in the market. And it will increase our living expenses, especially in the Bay Area and budgets. In another way, because some of the immigrants, especially illegal ones, are the unsafe point factor of the society, if the government controls them and [there are] less refugees or less dangerous people into the country, then [it will] make the community more safer.
Amy: When you mentioned, I guess, living expenses going up, how have you seen that in your daily life?
W.W.: So far, I’ve not seen it directly in my job area, but for DoorDash, I can feel the service fee has increased a lot since a few years ago. So I feel like maybe there’s less laborers in the market or the demands have increased, but not that many people want to do this kind of job, so more cheaper labor from the immigrants will contribute to the price to reduce the price.
Amy: Would you say that’s your biggest concern regarding the changes right now?
W.W.: So far, that is most related to my life.
Amy: Have you or someone close to you had an experience with immigration, deportation, Visa suspension, or Visa rejection?
W.W.: Not really, but I have some friends. They are applying for H1B, and it will take a long process. They are afraid of to leave USA right now because of the suspension, but before, in our age, it was not so concerning for us for [getting] the H1B visa.
Amy: What was it like when you were applying for the Visa, because you mentioned there was not as much concern over it?
W.W.: I feel like 10 years ago or 15 years ago, it was more stable for us to apply for the H1B. You just looked at your company to sponsor you and you contributed to your company, and there were no other risks to lose the H1B. It’s just not like now. The political factors or society are not stable. We didn’t have so much concern for that one Visa.
Amy: I’m going to move on to the next question. Seeing that immigration crackdown increased along with violence conducted by officials, maybe on social media too, what do you imagine future immigration enforcement to look like?
W.W.: I think that is the new form of the media that is not like TV or movies before. It’s instant; whatever happens somewhere, other people will know it immediately. [Do] you mean how the government controls or why government controls [immigration]?
Amy: I think that the ICE program is like a pretty new program. Honestly, I don’t think that any other presidency has created such a program before to crack down on the immigration crisis to my knowledge.. So what do you like, think of implementing new programs like this? What does that mean for more immigration enforcement in the future to look like?
W.W.: The immigration government maybe [will] have some security checks.
Amy: Yeah, it’s a much stricter, stricter crackdown currently than compared to previous years.
W.W.: More strict?
Amy: Yes. What do you think that means, [how is] the future direction towards immigration Crackdown is going to look like?
W.W.: Okay, so if they have more stricter [programs], [do] you mean the monitoring online of social media?
Amy: Not for social media, just for the actual ICE program and actual crackdown. Essentially, right now, they’re looking more into the immigration crisis than before, and a lot of the policies regarding whether you can immigrate and how you can immigrate. If you’re an undocumented immigrant, they’re really looking into that more. Do you think maybe they’re going to continue looking into that more or not continue looking into that more–the direction that it’s going to go in?
W.W.: I think that it depends on whether they want to tighten the policy, or they want to lose the policy. It may vary by different governments. I’m not sure if the next government after Trump [will] want to have more immigrants going to the US, so they will have less money, less control or less policy.
Amy: What do you want the readers of the Smoke Signal, which is our school newspaper, or the Bay Area to know or understand about the immigrant community right now? Is there any message that you would like to put out there? It doesn’t necessarily have to be about the ICE program–just in general.
W.W.: Yes. I want to be notified of any new policies related to immigration. I think that is the government’s responsibility to let the citizens be knowledgeable [on] what will impact their life.
Amy: For many, renewing Visas and maintaining a legal status has become more complex, like what you mentioned with some people that you know. How does this growing uncertainty affect your long term plans in education, career or life in the US?
W.W.: It seems [to] not directly related to me, but maybe [it is] related to my relatives in China or some friends who want to study in the US in the future. Maybe they will ask me for some information, and then I will provide for them and help them. Maybe this process is more complicated…
Amy: Has it been more difficult to renew student or work visas for you or for anyone you know in general from your experience?
W.W.: I just know some of my friends who want to immigrate their parents. Before Trump, they were not in a rush., but after, they know Trump has this kind of policy and they [will] expedite the process. So yeah, that’s it.
Amy: Okay. Thank you. With increasing crackdowns, how are you and your neighbors looking out for each other–if you know you guys are? During times of these crises, we often see a lot of community support going around. Do you have a particular moment where your community stepped up for you or another person?
W.W.: You mean what kind of activity from the community to support [me]?
Amy: Yes.
W.W.: Not really.
Amy: Okay, thank you. That was all of the interview questions. Thank you so much.