On Feb. 16, 2017, immigrants from around the nation took part in “A Day Without Immigrants,” a solidarity movement, which was both a boycott and a strike.
The grassroots campaign spread like wildfire across social media outlets following the Women’s March. With the support of world-class chefs, shop owners and service providers around the country, the idea gained momentum and eventually took shape.
Ethan Smith, co-owner of Hecho en Dumbo, a New York City restaurant, decided to close his restaurant despite a guaranteed financial hit.
“This seemed like an opportune moment for us to show the undocumented community support,” said Smith. “We also hope it will show those who may wish to impose broader deportation measures that our community as a whole isn’t going to sit idly by and let neighbors be taken from their homes en masse.”
Thousands of immigrants didn’t go to work, send their children to school or spend money to demonstrate the valuable contribution immigrants make to the American economy. Those who planned to grab lunch at the local taco shop or sushi bar were in for a real surprise when their favorite restaurants were closed to support immigrant rights. The same goes for homeowners who had to postpone construction on their homes.
The protest came in lieu of unrest over Donald Trump’s hardline immigration policies, and rightly so.
Over one in four, or 26.6 percent, of “Main Street” business owners — owners of businesses in the retail, accommodation and food services, and neighborhood service sectors — in the New Orleans metro area were foreign born in 2013, according to the American Immigration Council. 
It’s impossible to imagine my world void of immigrants. Spending last summer living in New Orleans exposed me to a variety of cultures different than my own. There was a wealth of international food at my fingertips (or, rather, my toe tips, considering nearly all my cravings could be satisfied with a short walk down the street). Without immigrants, my daily taste of culture would have been impossible.
Most ironically, had my grandmother, who was born in Honduras, been banned from America, she wouldn’t have become a successful business owner alongside my grandfather. Thus, I wouldn’t have been born or had the opportunity to raise my voice for the betterment of this already great nation.
America can’t thrive without the dynamism, entrepreneurial spirit and passion of immigrants.
Immigrants have played a part in founding over half of the 87 startup companies valued at $1 billion or more, creating an average of approximately 760 jobs per company in the United States. As America’s population ages, we must rely on the qualities immigrants bring to the table to contribute to innovation and research.
“We never received welfare, we never received any type of government aid,” says son of immigrant, Alejandro Osorio in an article by Grub Street. “What we’re trying to show is we’re here to work, to contribute, we want to be part of the American Dream. That’s what we’re trying to do.”
No, Trump, we aren’t “getting really bad dudes out of the country” by deporting immigrants.
Instead, we’re limiting our potential as a nation by failing to realize immigrants are who help make America great. 
Alaina DiLaura is a 20-year-old international studies and mass communication sophomore from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.