Immigration Attorney Calls for Due Process and Dignity in National Conversation

The national conversation about immigrants frequently centers on fear rather than factual contributions, overlooking their essential role in the economy, culture, and shared humanity, according to immigration attorney Maribel A. Pizá. From agricultural operations that feed the nation to construction projects that build communities and innovation driving economic growth, immigrants represent vital threads in the American fabric. Pizá emphasizes that the vast majority contribute tirelessly, with parents sacrificing for their children, young people striving for education against odds, and families working toward dignified futures.

A critical legal principle involves constitutional protections that apply universally. The U.S. Constitution's Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments guarantee due process protections to "persons," not exclusively "citizens," reflecting the Founders' vision that justice must be universal. Selectively applying these protections betrays both the spirit and letter of America's legal charter, undermining the nation's moral authority when due process is denied to immigrants in courts and detention centers.

The implications extend beyond domestic policy to global leadership. While positioning itself as a beacon of liberty and human rights, the United States risks becoming indistinguishable from nations it criticizes if it condemns human rights violations abroad while excusing similar actions domestically. This approach mirrors worst instincts rather than embodying the compassion and empathy that have historically been America's strengths, potentially justifying abuses elsewhere through inconsistent application of principles.

At a crossroads, the nation must decide whether to honor its constitutional and moral commitments or retreat into fear-based policies. Leading by example requires treating immigrants as human beings deserving dignity and due process rather than as statistics or scapegoats. The world watches as the United States chooses between inspiring progress through consistent application of human rights principles or undermining its global standing through selective justice that contradicts foundational American values.