'I'm Really Afraid of What He Could Do'

This interview is part of Broadly's Voices Against the Ban series. You can read more of these voices here.

Broadly: Why do you oppose Trump's immigration restrictions?

Mariam, 20, Scarborough: I don't really know how to put it, but I guess the country was founded on immigration. In terms of him banning people who contribute so much to the country—who contribute so much to the economy and health care, or whatever industry it may be—I think it's important to allow people from all backgrounds to contribute to a country that's so large and powerful and has "freedom," whatever that means.

They're coming from countries that don't have that, that kind of environment where they can excel and have the opportunities that they do. He's a leader who is so against different people and against people who have been in the country for years and families who have been in the country for years and maybe want to live a better life or whatever the reason may be. I think they should have that opportunity.

Does this affect you or your family currently?

Yeah. I have a lot of family in the States who are Somali and who have dual citizenship. A lot of them were born in Somalia, but they came to the States maybe when they were children or their parents came when they were young and stuff like that. I have a lot of relatives who travel back and forth, too. That will definitely hurt them as well as them crossing the border. Even crossing the border legally, they still have a difficult time because they're Somali and seeing that hurts me too because I feel like maybe one day it will affect me too, even though right now it doesn't directly. It indirectly affects me now and I think sooner or later something might happen. I'm really afraid of what he could do. He did that—even though it was unconstitutional—he fired the attorney general; he has so much power now and I don't know what he could do.

"If I had one thing to say to Trump about these orders, it would be…"

I don't think I'd be saying much. I don't really have a lot of words for him. I'd just say, fuck you, man.

This interview has been edited and condensed.