Why We Can’t Stay Silent About ICE Deportations and the Fight for Due Process

By Brook Paslay

Why We Can’t Stay Silent About ICE Deportations and the Fight for Due Process

The headlines might be fading, but the crisis hasn’t stopped. In July, ICE ramped up deportation efforts once again, targeting undocumented immigrants across the country. What makes this moment especially disturbing is how many people are being detained and deported without due process, without legal representation, and in many cases, without even being notified of their rights.

This is not justice. It is not what democracy looks like. And it is not something we can be silent about.

What’s Happening Right Now?

In early July, ICE announced a “renewed enforcement push” that includes increased workplace raids, home visits, and collaboration with local law enforcement. Immigrant rights groups across the country are reporting spikes in detentions, with some cities seeing double the number of arrests compared to the same time last year.

Many of those being picked up have no criminal records. They are longtime residents, parents, caregivers, essential workers, and students. What’s worse, many are being deported without proper legal hearings or are given court dates without enough time to find a lawyer.

According to a July report from the ACLU, more than 60 percent of detained immigrants in expedited removal cases do not have access to legal counsel, and many are processed in just days before being placed on a plane.

Why Due Process Matters

The right to due process is one of the most basic principles of American law. It is the idea that everyone has the right to a fair hearing, to know the charges against them, to defend themselves in court, and to have access to legal representation.

But in the current immigration system, that right often doesn’t exist. Here is what that looks like in practice:

  • People are arrested with little or no warning, often in front of their children or coworkers.
  • Detainees are moved to remote locations where lawyers are scarce.
  • Court dates are scheduled with little notice, or in some cases, never happen at all.
  • Asylum seekers are deported before they can fully present their case.

This is a systemic denial of rights, and it should alarm anyone who cares about justice, fairness, and human dignity.

Who Is Being Affected?

While political narratives often focus on “criminal aliens,” the truth is that the vast majority of people caught up in these deportation efforts are:

  • Longtime residents with deep roots in their communities.
  • Parents of U.S. citizen children.
  • Essential workers who kept communities running during the pandemic.
  • Asylum seekers fleeing violence, persecution, or economic collapse.
  • Dreamers and young people who have known no other home.
  • These are our neighbors, our coworkers, our classmates, and our friends.

What We Believe

At March for the Movement, we believe that no one should be deported without a fair hearing. We believe that immigration is not a crime, and that being undocumented should never strip someone of their basic human rights.

That is why we created the “I Want for You What You Want for Immigrants” T-shirt

It is not just a message. It is a value. If you want safety, dignity, and freedom for yourself and your family, then it must extend to everyone, no matter where they were born.

What You Can Do

This is not a moment for silence. Here are a few things you can do right now:

Support immigrant legal defense funds. Many people are deported simply because they cannot afford a lawyer. Consider donating or spreading the word about organizations like RAICES, which provides free and low-cost legal services to immigrants and refugees.

Contact your representatives. Demand stronger oversight of ICE, an end to expedited removal procedures, and permanent protections for undocumented people who call this country home.

Speak up. Talk about what’s happening. Wear your values. Challenge the idea that deportation equals justice.

This Is About More Than Immigration

When we allow one group of people to be denied due process, we create a system where anyone’s rights can be stripped away. This is about protecting the very foundation of democracy. If rights only apply to some of us, then they don’t really belong to any of us.

We believe in a future where all people, regardless of citizenship status, are treated with fairness and dignity. That future starts by standing up now.

Sources:

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