Letter: Stand up for our immigrant neighbors
My father, Jorge, came to America when he was twenty years old on a student visa. Born and raised on a farm in Honduras, he was the first in his family to earn a college degree. Without my dad’s decision to come to this country, I wouldn’t exist. It was here that my father met my mother, an American citizen. He supported me by managing a grocery store for two decades, despite bullying and discrimination at the hands of his superiors. Because of his sacrifices, I was able to become a small business owner and serve my state as Vice-Chair of the Utah Democratic Party.
I worry about the message that we are sending to people like my dad. Under the Trump administration, immigrants have become public enemy number one. There is no room for immigrants to fail as we saw when a man was taken into I.C.E. custody after appearing in an Ogden courtroom. Because he was charged with a misdemeanor, he risks being separated from his family and losing his ability to provide for them. I fear that this case will be the first of many, and if this trend continues, then we will be scaring immigrants away from reporting crimes or appearing as witnesses.
Immigrants like my dad contribute to our economy and serve their community. As I.C.E. ramps up their operations in Utah, I call on my fellow Ogden residents to unite behind your immigrant neighbors. I encourage you to contact your state & federal representatives and tell them how anti-immigrant policies are affecting our community. If our leaders continue to attack our neighbors, then it’s time to start organizing so that, in 2026, we can elect new leaders who stand with our community – not against it.
Oscar Mata
Ogden