This day began as a call to action. On February 16th, immigrants from cities across the country gathered in protest of the Trump administration’s plans to build a wall and to potentially deport millions of illegal immigrants, along with the executive order to temporarily block entry to people from seven Muslim-majority countries.

This day resulted from a series of raids conducted since February, in which over 680 illegal immigrants were arrested, raising alarm among the immigrant population for fear of their safety and well-being.

By word of mouth and social media, “A Day Without Immigrants” was an effort to show the Trump administration how much immigrants contribute to the United States economy.

Immigrants across the nation, whether naturalized citizens or undocumented workers, were encouraged to refrain from going to work or school, to shut down their businesses, and to abstain from shopping or going out to eat.

This day cast a spotlight on the important role that foreign workers play in the economy. And what began as a simple movement quickly reached the federal government, due to the heavy effect on the local businesses.

In Washington alone, various restaurants and food services, such as Starbucks and Taco Bell, were shut down as a result of immigrants not working that day. This alone shows how vital the immigrant population is to the nation.

In a report from Matt Carr, the owner of Little Red Fox restaurant in Washington D.C., Carr said that his “business would fall apart without his immigrant employees, who come from Venezuela and Guatemala.”

“Immigrants are the backbone of this country and the heart and soul of the service industry,” Carr continued. “Without them, our small businesses would crumble.”

This important day in American history is representative of the American Dream, the ideal that inspired immigrants to come to the United States in search of opportunities and better lives. With the polarization of the American electorate, along with the policies enforced by the Trump administration, the once prevalent idea of the American Dream is under threat.

However, while the “Day Without Immigrants” is over, the results are only beginning. This day has sparked conversations among Americans, reminding many why immigrants are so important to the nation.

While change cannot occur in a day, it is through days such as these that the country remembers its origins, its history, and the diversity that symbolizes all that America stands for.