Jan. 20, 2026 marked the one-year anniversary of the U.S. President Donald Trump’s second term. While there are currently three years left of Trump’s term, the past year has been extremely eventful, and residents are living through numerous changes and shifts in the country’s climate.
Within the first few months of Trump’s second term, immigration continued to be (as seen in his first term) a primary focus, with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) increasing their force and kidnappings of alleged “criminal immigrants.” On July 3, 2025, the Trump administration cleared the opening of a state-run migrant detention center in Ochopee, Florida, known as Alligator Alcatraz due to its environmental wildlife (alligators, deadly snakes). Based on numerous accounts from people held captive at the detention center, Amnesty International claims that the environment is entirely unfit for human habitation. Food is spoiled and infested with maggots, places meant for sleeping are extremely crowded and unsuitable, and numerous detainees are left without proper representation, especially those who are not english speaking, or are unaware of why they are being detained in the first place. Countless amounts of people have been detained without any notice, any criminal record, and even after following the “proper” ways to get into the U.S. The inhumane environment of Alligator Alcatraz was initially meant for adults, but there have been multiple instances of suspicion of children in the center, and even a recorded instance of a 15-year-old boy being kept there, according to NBC 6 South Florida.
Even though we are only entering the second year of Trump’s term, none of the economic promises Trump campaigned with have been established to benefit the working and middle class. CBS News claims that millionaires and billionaires in America, who are regarded as the wealthiest 400 in the country, are still paying a lower percentage of taxes than most Americans, who make significantly less than them. Because of the increasing hoard of wealth in the country, paired with the billions of dollars sent overseas, or used on our military and immigration defense, the economy is not improving and working class Americans are facing the brunt.
With the rising popularity of generative AI (Artificial Intelligence), more and more data centers are being established around the country. These data centers are no good for the environment nor the people they are near, because they are always built near people. This contributes to local pollution and the skyrocket in utility bills for many. In Indiana, WNDU claims thousands have reported their electricity bills going up hundreds of dollars due to service company NIPSCO’s surge in delivery fees, which is a direct result of not just homes surviving in the cold, harsh weather, but also NIPSCO funding system and infrastructure upgrades.
Numerous other changes have occurred nationwide within the first year of Trump’s second term. These are just a few of the most popular issues and changes, as well as what can mostly affect those here in Indiana, South Bend and even here at Adams.
