Mounce: “Who Will Save You?”

Think you’re safe? Think Trump can’t find you in the Rio Grande Valley? Think again. 

Now it’s not just immigrants; it’s students, here at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and Texas A&M and all over the nation (Omar Zapata, My Rio Grande Valley, 10th April, 2025). Nine students with visas revoked here at UTRGV. No reasons given. My special reason for feeling the pain? I was Faculty Advisor International Student Association, UTRGV for many years (and before that, for Pan American, before that for St Mary’s University, before that, working with international students at the University of Texas Austin, where I received my PhD). 

Not only do I feel for those students (and our culture and our economy, which they helped nurture) but for the rest of our students, Mexican American, the majority, greatest proportion in the nation, but, of course, Anglo American, African American students of many ethnicities. They are from many backgrounds. They’re now deprived of those friends, those connections to the outside world. The ramifications go on and on; some may return to their homes, angry, resentful at the waste of time and money. Then perhaps they will be eager to continue studies abroad, nourishing other countries’ coffers, cultures. Our loss, the gain for others. Perhaps they go to Europe, or to China?

How short sighted. I know, I know! This event ranks perhaps number 17 in a series of, oh 101 really bad, bad policies and actions over the last 90 days. Yet it is serious; it reflects the steer stupidity of the administration, the callous disregard, not only for people’s lives, but for the quality and nature of our economic and political system, the essence of the present and hope for the future. 

Moreover, just watch! This event is predictive of “more to come.” There will be more “Alice in Wonderland,” crazy-rabbit-hole, announcements and policies. See the stock market? See the groveling, a** kissing millionaires? (Anthony Scaramucci, ‘Trump’s Tariffs Cost You Money,” Newsom podcast, 4th April 2025). Still don’t see? Read Janet Yellen, former secretary treasurer (‘Wrecking Ball,’ Huffington Post, 11th April 2025). Or watch almost any current newscast with acolytes claiming the naked emperor “really does have a beautiful cloak.”

Or, more personal, more “down and dirty,” check out Robert Reich (‘Social Security is in the Worst Crisis in its History,’ 11th April 2025). No, Social Security is not running out of money, despite frequent, numerous false claims. The “crisis was created by Donald Trump and Elon Musk.” Field offices are being shut down. Hold times for customer service calls are hours-long; more than 12% of staff has been pushed out, 50% more due to be fired. More than 75 a million Americans rely on Social Security; you may be one of them. I am. 

Many are distressed. Some are pushing back. Inequality Media Civic Action and other groups are sounding the alarm. Will it be enough? They even come for the scientists. (Read David Gieniasz, ‘We Are Witnessing the Destruction of Science in America,’ The Guardian, 9th April 2025).

So, now they’ve come for your Grandmother’s Social Security! Now, if you send money abroad, they’ve come for you, too (Stelia Chavez ‘Fed to Collect Info of People Sending Money from US-Mexico Border,’ Texas, Public Radio, 10th April 2025). Big things. Little things. Unimportant things. Important things. Can/will enough actions be taken to counteract the evil ones in place by the administration? Such an onslaught. Such a dizzying pace. So intrusive in our lives. So dangerous. So un-American!

I am reminded of the lament by Pastor Martin Niemoller (quoted at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum, Washington, DC). “First they came for the Socialists, then the Jews… then there was no one left to rescue me.” So, they come now for the students, then the middle class and poor existing on Social Security. Will they come for you? Who will be left to save you?

Editor’s Note: The above guest column was penned by writer Dr. Gary Joe Mounce, a professor emeritus (political science) at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. He can be reached by email via: gjmounce@gmail.com.

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