The policies enacted during the Trump administration have introduced new obstacles for migrants and those assisting them, according to a panel of experts at a Johns Hopkins University event on February 6. The discussion coincided with the launch of the new Critical Diaspora Studies undergraduate major at the Chloe Center.
Hosted by the Chloe Center for the Critical Study of Racism, Immigration, and Colonialism, the event, titled From the Borderlands to Baltimore: Meeting the Challenges for Refugees Today, was organized in collaboration with the Center for Social Concern and the Program in Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies. The panel examined the impact of shifting policies on migrant communities and the professionals supporting them.
The discussion featured Susana Gastelum from SAMU First Response, Yaneldis Boullon from Esperanza Center Health Services, and immigration lawyer Fatmata Barrie of Barrie Law Center.
Gastelum, who previously worked at a now-closed migrant shelter in Tucson, Arizona, described how policy changes have affected not only migrants but also local businesses that depended on them.
“We were employing food companies, janitorial companies, transportation. And now all these people have been laid off,” she said.
She further explained that asylum restrictions had left many individuals stranded in small border towns, uncertain about their future due to the cancellation of scheduled appointments with U.S. authorities.
The panelists also addressed how policy changes have instilled fear among undocumented migrants and asylum seekers. Boullon pointed out that many migrants now avoid essential services such as hospitals and schools because of the potential risk of encountering immigration enforcement.
“The reality is that depending on the county in Maryland that one lives in, one might be more at risk of being questioned,” Boullon said. She noted that deportations have historically been a government practice but are now being used to create fear among immigrant communities.
Barrie, an immigration attorney, spoke about the psychological burden these policies place on migrants and the role that legal professionals play in guiding them through the complex system.
“They say an attorney is a counselor, and I am doing a lot of the counselor part—having to calm people down and have them understand that the images they see online are purposeful,” she said. “We’ve always had removals and deportations. It’s nothing new, but the images are purposeful. It’s there to imprint people’s minds and psyches to be frozen with fear.”
Despite these challenges, the demand for services in Baltimore remains high, according to Boullon. The Esperanza Center continues to provide critical support to migrants in the city.
The panel also addressed the emotional toll faced by professionals working in high-stress environments. Gastelum shared that her motivation comes from wanting to create a better world for her child and for other mothers, while Boullon highlighted the importance of celebrating and supporting her community.
Myriam Amosu, a senior who attended the event, expressed gratitude for the panelists’ perspectives.
“If it’s stressful for us just hearing about it, you can’t imagine how much it must be for them, actually being there and trying to help as many people as possible,” she told The News-Letter.
The discussion also placed these issues in a broader global framework. Barrie argued that both past and present neocolonial systems have contributed to forced migration, making it essential to understand migration through a historical lens.
Following the event, The News-Letter interviewed Christopher Amanat, a first-year student majoring in History and Critical Diaspora Studies, who played a role in organizing the panel. Amanat, who had previously worked with Gastelum in a migrant shelter, expressed his desire to raise awareness about the difficulties faced by those working in immigration under the current administration.
“If you are an immigrant yourself, or if you have family who are immigrants, or if you have a family member who is undocumented, and you feel afraid and you feel alone, know there are people fighting for you,” he said. “I am fighting for you. We can only make a change together.”