Washington, D.C. — With the stroke of a pen, newly re-elected President Donald Trump has enacted several executive orders fulfilling campaign promises and igniting nationwide anger. Not only is he picking his cabinet, he’s crafting a new form of democracy and “taking America back.”

Birthright citizenship

Anyone born in the United States is automatically granted American citizenship, regardless of their parents’ immigration status. Trump’s new executive order calls for anyone born in the U.S. to parents who don’t have American citizenship through illegal immigration on a green card, work or travel visa to no longer be granted American citizenship after Feb. 19, according to the Washington State Standard. 

Several states have already sued the president with critics calling the order unconstitutional because it violates the 14th Amendment. Federal judge John Coughenour signed a temporary 14-day restraining order against Trump’s order.

“(Trump) can’t just change the 14th Amendment to whatever he wants it to be, and it clearly says you’re a citizen if you’re born here,” said Adam Wagenbrenner, graduate of University of California San Diego’s political science program.

DEI policies

Trump has called for an end to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policies throughout the federal government. These policies have been dissolved due to concerns that individuals are hired because of their skin color rather than individual merit, which ultimately goes against what DEI stands for. This order calls for the abolishment of all current and future activities, programs, mandates and requirements of DEI. 

Former laws passed to promote DEI throughout the federal government by the Biden administration have been banned and revoked, resulting in government employees responsible for DEI being on paid leave as of Jan. 29. Trump has claimed that DEI prompted by the Biden administration has promoted intentional discrimination throughout the government. Government agencies have until Jan. 31 to come up with ways to restructure their workforce and present a plan to the federal government.

One of Trump’s first campaign promises and executive orders which has now been signed into existence by another executive order is that the government will only acknowledge two sexes: male and female. The order classifies the difference between gender and gender identity as gender is biologically assigned, and gender identity is what an individual identifies as; however, it is now not applicable to the federal government.

Jan. 6 pardons

On Jan. 6, 2021, a mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol in Washington, D.C. Rioters seeking to keep Trump in power attempted to interrupt a joint Congress session from being able to count electoral college votes that would have made Joe Biden the new president. 

After 36 hours, five people died, with one police officer dying from an assault by the capital rioters. They participated in vandalism and looting, and the FBI estimates 2,000-2,500 people entered the Capitol; 174 police officers were injured with four officers dying several months after the attacks by suicide.

“This proclamation ends a grave national injustice that has been perpetrated upon the American people over the last four years and begins a process of national reconciliation,” the executive order said.

 Trump pardoned over 1,500 responsible individuals and those convicted of crimes who were serving their prison sentences were ordered to be released immediately. The attorney general has dismissed any pending indictments.

“(The executive orders are) affecting our foreign outlook, which is causing the Greenland issue, the Panama issue and also the Mexico and Canada tarrifs,” Los Alamitos High School juinor Duy Dang said. “It’s creating some sort of mockery as Trump hasn’t really been able to do much with what he’s saying, with the executive orders, and ultimately, it’s just looking really bad.”