Coming
Changes

STORY BY BERNIE CARMONA + CORDELIA MOORE

Published on Dec 10, 2024

As the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump approaches in January, impending policy changes are about to massively impact the lives of Bronx residents. 

Among the proposed policies are mass deportations that could tear apart families, and education reforms such as book bans and plans to eliminate the Federal Department of Education.

Additionally, possible changes in economic policies may result in significant effects on South Bronx businesses and industries, in turn potentially affecting many residents–but it’s not yet clear exactly what the economic consequences will be.

EDUCATION

On January 20th, 2025 when President-Elect Trump takes office, there are indications that he plans to restrict access to free school lunch and to pull funding from certain federal education programs.

According to the publication NY Focus, Trump has plans to cut funding in several areas of education. An example is Title II, an act passed by Congress in 1965, which supports teacher development and prevents overcrowding in classes.

Another example of Trump’s potential cuts is Title IV, an act also passed in 1965, “which administers postsecondary federal student aid; and funding for afterschool and summer programs for low-income students.”  

These cuts may affect the residents in the South Bronx by ending financial aid for impoverished students, increasing the number of students per class and increasing the possibility that teachers are undertrained. The cuts could also possibly end some after school programs offered to South Bronx students. 

The results of President-Elect Trump’s impending plans to decrease civil rights would have the following effects in schools: 

• Students might have to take civil rights complaints to the court system, rather than having cases handled by local school authorities. 

• The Federal Government may remove some protections for students with disabilities.

• State governments with Democratic Party leadership could still be able to enforce civil rights in the schools.

The Associated Press reported in 2019 during Trump’s last term that the Trump administration proposed restrictions on eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The proposal, rejected by the New York State Attorney General, would have taken away free lunches from as many as one million low-income children. The publication Education Week reports that many of Trump’s political allies want the incoming Trump administration to once again seek to end school lunches for many low-income children, and that would have an immediate effect on low-income school children from the South Bronx.

BDC FOCUS reached out to the DOE (Department of Education) Press Office for information on Trump restricting free school lunch but failed to get a response at the time of publication. 

ECONOMY

As President-elect Trump prepares to take office, his economic plans are already sparking sharp debate among Bronx residents. Many residents endorsed him during this election but are unsure about the potential impact of his policies. Trump’s plans include deregulating industries and implementing tax cuts, which may affect Bronx residents’ future earnings and financial stability.

Poncho, a Bronx resident, moved to the U.S. from Mexico in 2005 to build a better life. For him, Trump’s recent election has made him fearful. “When I first got here, I thought the job market was good,” he says, reflecting on his early years in the country. “But now, I work at Papa John’s in the South Bronx. It’s an okay job, but I’m not allowed to work overtime. I pay my taxes like any other American, but I’m worried about my friends and neighbors. How are they going to afford rent and pay their taxes without falling into poverty?”

Studies show that the wealthiest Americans have seen the largest gains from Trump’s previous tax cuts in his first term. According to the Urban Institute and Brookings Institution, the top 1% of U.S. households received an average tax cut of $61,090. Households in the lowest income group received an average cut of only $70. If this trend were to be repeated in Trump’s 2nd presidency, low income Bronx groups would now be facing a housing situation where rents in the South Bronx have increased recently by thousands of dollars a year.

To many Americans, tax cuts sound attractive. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 slashed the corporate tax rate, and provided stimulus to the U.S economy. However, it remains to be seen how Trump’s future tax cuts will affect the Bronx, Poncho says.

“I’m just one of many, and I can’t help but wonder how these changes are going to affect us immigrants.”

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017 is set to expire in 2025. This expiration could have mixed effects on immigrant and low income communities. On the one hand, higher taxes on wealthier households could boost government revenue, which might fund programs that benefit low income communities. On the other hand, families like Poncho’s may still feel the pressure of rising costs and limited job opportunities, even if the law expires.

As the debate continues, the current impact of these policies remains a source of anxiety for many low-income families. Bronx residents like Poncho can only adopt a wait-and-see attitude, hoping for a more equitable economic future. 

Studies show that the wealthiest Americans have seen
the largest gains from Trump’s previous tax cuts in his first term. According to the Urban Institute and Brookings Institution, the top 1% of U.S. households received an average
tax cut of $61,090. Households in the lowest income group
received an average cut of only $70. 

IMMIGRATION

Over the past year, more than 100,000 immigrants have arrived in New York City. Many are fleeing violence, poverty, and government corruption in their home countries. On a cold, quiet night, I met Isabella as she came home from work. Isabella, a resident of the South Bronx, expressed her worries.

“I tell my daughters that we should all leave if we get deported,” she says. “But they’re educated enough to understand the current situation. They know how to find scholarships or opportunities to continue their education here. We’re preparing ourselves, more than anything”.

Immigrant communities are living in widespread fear, due to President-elect Donald Trump’s mass deportation plan to be enacted once he takes office in January, 2025. In November 2024, Tom Homan, the head of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), endorsed a controversial recommendation to separate families under the administration’s “zero tolerance” policy. This proposal has sparked criticism from both immigrant advocate groups and lawmakers, who warn of its potentially devastating impact on families and communities.

Financial concerns are also growing. The Washington Post reported that during his first term, Donald Trump diverted $10 billion from Pentagon accounts to fund border wall construction. Now, Republican lawmakers are pushing for increased ICE funding, and Trump may tap into Department of Defense resources again to finance deportations. Critics warn that repurposing these funds raises questions about whether such spending is sustainable, especially when many communities are already struggling.

As immigrant families face the threat of mass deportations, organizations like the Mexican Coalition are providing crucial help. By offering services such as food, legal workshops, and healthcare guidance, the coalition seeks to provide stability in a vulnerable environment, “It’s not just for Mexicans; we try to connect people to the resources they need”, said Jairo Guzman, a representative of the Mexican Coalition. 

The fear of seeking medical care or legal help because of the threat of deportation is overwhelming for many immigrant families. As the threat of mass deportations grows, this anxiety only increases, leaving people feeling isolated and fearful. In these uncertain times, access to support and resources is more important than ever, as families struggle to cope with a system that seems more hostile by the day.