‘You don’t want to see someone you think of as a good person treated like a criminal.’

Charlie Rouhoff, 18, is a kinesiology student at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. As a first-year student, he is still developing his views on political and social issues. Rouhoff shared his thoughts on the Trump administration’s immigration policies.

Jaeyoung Cho: How familiar are you with the policy of sending ICE officers to American cities?

Charlie Rouhoff: I’d say I’m somewhat familiar. I look at the news and social media, so I see those kinds of things. I’m not super into it, but I do see a lot about it.

Cho: What was your reaction when you first heard about ICE and this policy?

Rouhoff: At first, I didn’t really think much of it. I didn’t think it would affect me in any way. I’m Caucasian, and I’ve lived in America all my life, so it never really occurred to me. But now I’ve seen people I know and even family members who have been affected by it, so my perspective has changed.

Cho: What concerns you about how this policy is being enforced?

Rouhoff: My main problem is how they’re doing it. They have things that aren’t really warrants, but they present them as warrants, and I don’t like that. I also feel like there’s some racial profiling. It’s okay to ask questions, but when you’re detaining people without actual cause, I can’t agree with that.

Cho: Do you think sending ICE officers to cities is a good idea?

Rouhoff: I understand the idea of enforcing laws, and that makes sense. You have to send them where immigrants are if you’re trying to enforce those laws. But they’re not just focusing on criminals. They’re also focusing on people who are doing good for the community, and that’s where I start to question what’s actually going on.

Cho: How might this policy affect communities like Milwaukee?

Rouhoff: You have a lot of working-class people and immigrants. I’ve worked with a lot of immigrants, and many of them are really good people. You don’t want to see someone you think of as a good person treated like a criminal. I think there has to be a different way to handle that, because I don’t know if deporting them is always the best option.

Cho: Have you heard about the incident in Minneapolis, and what are your thoughts on it?

Rouhoff: Yes, I have. A lot of my family is from Minneapolis, so it felt pretty personal. It was honestly kind of heartbreaking. In one case, it might be argued as self-defense, but in another case, there was a teacher who was just trying to help someone, and he ended up getting shot. I don’t think that should have happened. Situations like that make me question whether ICE agents should be involved in those kinds of situations.

Cho: What should the U.S. government focus on when it comes to immigration policy?

Rouhoff: I think they need to focus on removing actual criminals first. But the bigger question is what to do with the majority of immigrants who are working hard and contributing to society. I think there needs to be some kind of solution where they can eventually get citizenship, even if it takes time and effort.