You might not have noticed but Monday 2/3/25 was a protest from illegal immigrants called a “Day Without Immigrants.” The size of America alone makes this obsolescence front and center. Even the name of the movement is missing one very important word, illegal. The socialists and Marxists in America never want to use the word illegal in front of the word immigrant and of course that changes the nomenclature and meaning of their so-called movement.

The “Day Without Immigrants” movement, which gained traction in the United States in 2017, was an insignificant expression of solidarity and activism against anti-illegal immigrant policies, especially those introduced during President Donald Trump’s administration. The movement called for illegal immigrants to stay home from work, refrain from shopping, and avoid public spaces as a form of protest. Its goal was to highlight the contributions of illegal immigrants to American society and the economy, emphasizing how dependent the country is on illegal immigrant labor. The result was one big yawn and did nothing to wipe away all the problems illegal aliens have brought to America.

The movement began in response to the Trump administration’s aggressive stance on illegal immigration. Trump’s rhetoric, which rightfully referred to illegal immigrants as criminals and threats to national security, culminated in executive orders aimed at banning travel from several Muslim-majority countries and pushing for a border wall with Mexico to stop the flow of illegal crossings in this hemisphere. The “Day Without Immigrants” was conceived as a way for illegal immigrants to showcase their importance in day-to-day life by creating a temporary disruption. By staying home, illegal immigrants hoped to raise awareness of how essential they were to the functioning of various industries, especially those that rely heavily on immigrant labor, such as agriculture, hospitality, construction, and service sectors.

In terms of immediate visibility, the “Day Without Immigrants” movement was undoubtedly ineffective. Across the country, restaurants, farms, and other businesses temporarily closed or reduced their services as immigrant workers participated in the boycott but for the most part, America kept being America.

The movement’s ineffectiveness in achieving long-term policy change highlights what a disillusionment it all was. While the “Day Without Immigrants” protest brought attention to the issue for some, it did not result in immediate changes to the Trump administration’s policies. There was no significant shift in illegal immigration laws or public perception of the illegal immigrant problem in 2017 and there are none now.

Some critics argued that while the protest was symbolic, the protest was not universally supported within the illegal immigrant community itself. Some felt that the boycott harmed their ability to make a living, particularly those in low-wage, hourly jobs who could not afford to take a day off without risking their income or jobs. The protest did not unify all illegal immigrant voices or lead to a concrete political agenda that would bring about policy change.

The “Day Without Immigrants” was inadequate in raising awareness of the central role illegal immigrants play in the American workforce and in fostering solidarity among illegal immigrant communities. The stunt sparked discussions on illegal immigration reform for an esoteric group of people but ultimately fell on deaf ears for the masses who barely noticed a day of anything in 2017 and 2025 respectively.

C. Rich

CRich@AmericaSpeaksInk.com

C. Rich

C. Rich is the voice behind America Speaks Ink, home to the America First Movement. As an author, freelance ghostwriter, poet, and blogger, C. Rich brings a “baked-in” perspective shaped by growing up on the streets and beaches of South Florida in the 1970s-1980s and brings a quintessential Generation-X point of view.

Rich’s writing journey began in 2008 with coverage of the Casey Anthony trial and has since evolved into a wide-ranging exploration of politics, culture, and the issues that define our times. Follow C. Rich’s writing odyssey here at America Speaks Ink and on Amazon with a multi-book series on Donald Trump called “Trump Era: The MAGA Files” and many other books and subjects C. Rich is known to cover.  CRich@AmericaSpeaksInk.com

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