State of the Union: What we’ll hear and what we want to hear

Tonight, President Trump will give his first State of the Union address. His first year as president has been tumultuous and unpredictable, but we’ve got a sense of what he might cover.

In a Facebook Live session, UnidosUS President and CEO Janet Murguía talked with our Vice President Eric Rodriguez to go over what we might hear—and what we’d like to hear—tonight from the commander-in-chief.

DACA and Immigration

Nearly 800,000 DREAMers have been stuck in limbo since Trump ended the DACA program late last year, and his refusal to move on a permanent solution resulted in the government shutting down.

Tonight, we expect Trump to outline his immigration plan and his vision for a DACA solution. The proposal has been previewed as a solution for DREAMers, but it’s really just a thinly veiled assault on immigrants.

  • The plan introduces massive cuts to legal immigration, allows $25 billion in funding for the wall, and provides funding to implement a mass deportation force.
  • Instead, Trump needs to get serious about a DACA solution, which should focus specifically on permanent relief for DREAMers, and reasonable border security.

READ MORE ON THIS TOPIC

‘We will not stop fighting for what is right for our country’

North Carolina youth take to streets to defend their dreams

Hispanic family

Tax Plan

We know the president’s very proud of his new tax plan, which gives more than a trillion dollars in tax cuts to corporations. Working families and anyone who’s not a one-percenter will foot the bill.

  • On average, the richest 1% will get a tax cut of more than $55,000 in 2019. This is 125 times the average tax cut that will go to Latino homes, about $440.
  • The law also eliminates the individual mandate of the Affordable Care Act, the part of the bill that helps keep premiums in check. Without it, 13 million Americans will be stripped of their health care, and insurance premiums will go up by 10%.

READ MORE ON THIS TOPIC

Our community will not forget the devastating impact of the GOP tax bill

Stock Market

Trump will also probably mention the soaring stock market as proof that his policies are strengthening the economy. The reality is that most Americans don’t get anything out of a surge in the stock market. The wealthiest shareholders get most of the benefits.

  • Only 21% of Americans who earn less than $30,000 a year own any stock. Most working-class families are entirely left out of a thriving stock market.
  • If President Trump was really concerned about the nation’s economy, he would focus on raising the minimum wage, supporting job training programs, and making sure higher education is accessible and affordable for all Americans to have a career.

READ MORE ON THIS TOPIC

Banking the unbanked: What’s important for Latino consumers

Report — Small Dollars for Big Change: Immigrant Financial Inclusion and Access to Credit

Unity March for Puerto Rico

Disaster Relief for Puerto Rico

More than four months after Hurricane Maria made landfall, Puerto Rico still doesn’t have the resources it needs to rebuild and be a safe home for its residents.

And just yesterday, FEMA announced that it is ending water and food aid for Puerto Rico starting tomorrow.

  • The amount of money the administration requested for combined relief for natural disasters in California, Florida, Texas, and Puerto Rico does not even begin to provide the support our 3.5 million Puerto Rican brothers and sisters, who are all American citizens, need.
  • Acting quickly is not just the right thing to do. It will also prevent further loss of life and cost to the American economy.

READ MORE ON THIS TOPIC

Why we must keep fighting for Puerto Rico

We will be watching and listening closely tonight. So be sure to follow us and Janet on Twitter for reactions.

You might also be interested in: