Carrie, Pennsylvania

Dear Sen. David McCormick (R-PA), Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-PA-04), Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA)

My name is Carrie and I am one of your constituents. I am a mother of three, a wife, a teacher, and a Christian. Until January 6, 2021 I was a registered Republican, and had been all my adult life. On January 7, 2021 I changed my political affiliation to Independent.

I am writing because I am concerned about the myriad of executive orders Donald Trump issued on the first day of his second term. While the sheer number is appalling, more concerning is the content of these orders.

I teach English as a Second Language. My students are immigrants or children of immigrants. Donald Trump's executive order to rescind birthright citizenship has shaken the immigrant community to the core. Add to that the change announced by ICE that they will now enter sensitive spaces, and the fear has moved to outright terror.

Students are afraid to stay at home. They're scared to come to school. They are worried that ICE will break down the door of their school and haul them away. They're anxious that their parents won't be there when they go home. They are terrified.

Teachers are horrified by the order and scared. Our job is to encourage, care for, and educate children. Now we're wondering if we will see them hauled away, or if they will simply disappear one day.

Teachers and students should be able to work in physically and emotionally safe spaces. Donald Trump's executive order has robbed of that.

I am not alone in my concern about this executive order. I have had colleagues, family members, members of my church congregation, parents of my children's friends, and people I grew up with reach out to me to ask how my students are faring. They want to know how they can help.

I wish I could say that this is the only executive order that concerns me. Not even close. The massive abuse of this power, and the blatant disregard for the constitution are completely unacceptable. The lack of human decency on the part of our new president, and those he surrounds himself with, is demonstrative of what happens when people who only care about themselves gain power.

I urge you to take action on this matter. Your role has always been intended to be a balance to the president's power. Use your power for good-- don't let him go unchecked. You owe it to your constituents, and we demand action.

Thank you for your service to Pennsylvanians, and more widely to the nation.

Sincerely,

Carrie, PA