Immigration Court

I want you to think for a moment. For the parents reading this, what was your kid like when they were between 2 - 10 years old? What were you like?

Did you understand complex legal terms and processes? How did you deal with people in authority? How well did you communicate with language, let alone a foreign one?

I ask this due to the latest news of the problems happening at the immigration courts. Imagine if you can, a 3 year old standing in front of a judge. This 3 year old has to understand why they are there and defend themselves against a federal prosecutor.

You see, there are no guarantees of legal representation in Immigration Court. Unless you can afford one, you are on your own. You have to an understanding of the complex immigration laws that will determine you fate.

Now I don't remember much about my early childhood. I have vivid memories from about 6 years old and beyond. I can tell you that understanding complex concepts like Asylum, judicial procedure, and confrontational defense were way beyond my understanding. I'm betting they were beyond yours.

At the age of three, my daughter had a hard time speaking certain words that we take for granted. Now imagine her having to answer in complex terms about why she should be granted asylum. Let alone understanding what it means.

This is why we don't try children without a parent or a guardian. But this is what the Trump administration wants. Heck, they want to eliminate the entire concept of due process.

If your argument is that "too bad, they came here illegally" then you need to check a few things. First, SCOTUS has ruled that everybody, citizen and alien alike, are due equal protection under the law. Thank you 14th Amendment. This means that no matter your legal status, you are due your day in court.

The other thing you need to check is your humanity. A child is an innocent. They were brought by their parents or other family members. Most of these kids were removed from their families. We must treat them with care and love.

So, how to end this rant? I could go on about the court ruling that say all kids under 5 have to be returned to their parents within 14 days or that all kids must be back with families in 30 days. (2 days have already have passed.)

Instead I will say this, is this the country you want to leave your children or grandchildren? Is this how you want to be remembered? Or do you want to leave the country and the world in a better place than you found it? You decide.