‘Our country is built on immigration, so it suddenly becoming an issue makes no sense to me.’

Bridgit Gurske is a sophomore nursing student at UW-Milwaukee. Gurske works in the Student Success Center as a peer mentor. She gave her opinion on Trump’s administration and the impact its decisions have had on citizens.

Junior Sotelo: What do you think about Trump’s actions in relation to democracy since taking office in January?

Bridgit Gurkse: I think his actions have been very negative to the overall US population. I think his view of democracy is very secluded and he’s only for democracy, for a certain group of people, kind of white, straight, conservative people. I think he really limits his views to anything outside of that. I think his views are homophobic, racist. I think he just targets a bunch of different people for no reason just because they have different views than him.

Sotelo: Are there any specific decisions that Trump’s administration has made that stand out to you?

Gurske: I think in recent light, ICE is a big thing. I don’t agree at all with that. I don’t care if someone is an illegal immigrant if they have not done anything wrong other than just simply coming to this country there should be nothing wrong with that. Our country is built on immigration so it suddenly becoming an issue makes no sense to me, to be honest. A recent law was passed that they can be subjective in who they might think is an illegal immigrant, just based on what they look like or what their job is, and targeting certain groups, specifically Hispanics, just for the kind of job they have, and them being here, I don’t think is right.

Sotelo: Do you think Trump’s administration has changed the political climate and how?

Gurske: They definitely have changed the political climate. I think, I mean, I’ve only been able to vote in one election, but I think just growing up in the United States, you see politics from a very young age and you kind of start to understand them from a young age. I feel like growing up, it was just like one opinion versus the other, but now everything is very much left versus right and either right or wrong. It’s not like you can have a mix of a penny and jerk. Can’t have a Republican and Democratic view on something, it’s you have to be right or left. If you don’t have a solid opinion that lines up with a certain party, you’re wrong. Like, that’s how it seems like it is now.

Sotelo: What is your opinion on the government shutdown? How does the government shutdown affect health care?

Gurske: I think they just went on their, like, 10th voting day and they weren’t able to pass anything and then not wanting to negotiate is a little concerning. I’ve got a family member whose job is directly affected by the shutdown. So I think my view on the government shutdown isn’t really a political one, just that it is putting people out of jobs and it’s delaying a lot of things in this country, and that’s where I think the issue is. That’s how I do it at least.

It does affect health care. I think a lot of parts or a lot of sections of health care are directly funded by the government, and if they continue to delay or refuse to negotiate, when it’ll start back up again, it’ll decrease funding for it. I just think, just in general, the government does have a lot to do with our healthcare, and if the government continues to be shut down, proper healthcare isn’t going to be administered.

Sotelo: What are your thoughts about federal troops in Milwaukee cities to help us reduce crime and violence?

Gurske: I don’t think federal troops being in Milwaukee or any city is helping at all. I think it’s just scaring people and making the whole city feel like they can’t walk around freely like they used to. I mean, If I saw federal troops down the street, I would think that something is actually happening that I need to be scared of, but I don’t see the need for federal troops being on the streets. I think just state law enforcement and city law enforcement is great, but I don’t think that federal troops are needed at this time, at least.

Sotelo: If you could ask or tell Donald Trump and his administration something, what would it be?

Gurske: That is a tough question, I think I would just ask why or like what his motives are behind a lot of the laws he passed. What he feels like should be done in terms of having people believe in something differently than you and like how that like really makes him feel. Because I know that, he goes online and says certain things and pass certain laws, but I feel like it’s just kind of him backing his party and not really like fully what he believes in, so I would like to hear exactly what he thinks.