Among the many orders recently released by the Trump administration, the order “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing” was made on Jan. 20. The order was made to terminate all programs, policies, and instances of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in connection to the Federal government.
This order focuses on removing programs and resources that give support, aid, and opportunities to marginalized identities which were originally supported by the Executive order 13985, “Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government” which was signed by former president Biden on Jan. 20, 2021.
The threat to DEI has been brought concern and uncertainty to the Winona State University Campus. The Winona State Equity and Inclusion Department commented on the uncertainty that they have about the current threats to eliminate funding from DEI programs.
“To date no actions have been taken by the federal government. Like all universities, we are assessing what these messages mean and, if implemented, what effect they would have on our campuses.” Andrea Northam, the Senior Director of Marketing at Winona State commented.
A Winona State Department Chair noted how the orders are ambiguous and is focused on continuing to adhere to teaching DEI. The order to remove DEI has not made it clear on what could happen to make programs that must implement DEI into their programs.
“I don’t think that anything will really happen, it’s not really specific enough, like are we not going to be able to talk about transgender people or socioeconomic status, it’s not clear.” They said. “I can clean up a syllabus, but you aren’t going to tell me how to teach.”
Along with the threat to DEI, there has been an uptick in policing and cases involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This has become a larger concern in many educational institutions with the fear, and active cases, of ICE appearing on school campuses. Orders that give more power to ICE have been made and it was stated in a press statement by a Department of Homeland Security that “criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest.” These statements and orders are re-enforcing racist sentiments and ideologies that are causing fear and uncertainty in students, especially with those that have immigrant families.
Perla Ibarra, a first-year student and an Executive Board Member for the Winona State Student Organization for Latinos (SOL), explained how the order has given her instability and uncertainty on what is to happen next with the large number of restrictive orders.
Ibarra outlines her disappointment with Winona State and their first steps of surface level acknowledgement of the issues that are currently affecting their students, although Winona State’s meeting to distribute resources for ICE is a hope for more helpful actions.
“As a first-generation college student from a Hispanic immigrant family, the uncertainty surrounding stricter policies on DEI and ICE feels deeply personal.” Ibarra stated. “Higher education already feels like an uphill battle—navigating financial aid, academic expectations, and the pressures of being the first in my family to take this path. But beyond the academic struggles, there’s the constant fear and stress that policies targeting immigrant communities could impact my family, my peers, and my ability to focus on my education.”
Ibarra mentions how TRIO, a DEI funding organization on the Winona State campus, has offered her guidance, support, and community when things become overwhelming and stressful for her. The fear of losing TRIO to the new orders around DEI programs is huge concern to Ibarra and students alike.
“First-generation students from immigrant families don’t just need support—we deserve it.” Ibarra said.
