The Biden administration’s approach to immigration was nothing short of calamitous, culminating in a border predicament so dire that even traditionally left-leaning publications like the New York Times had to acknowledge its magnitude. This border issue played a significant role in the presidential election, essentially serving as a mandate to President Donald Trump to revert the crisis. There’s no arguing that Trump delivered by putting an end to Joe Biden’s ineffective border control strategies and significantly reducing illegal immigration.
However, it appears Trump’s initiatives were not limited to revamping immigration policies and curbing illegal entry into the U.S. His administration also dealt with immigrants, both documented and undocumented, in shocking ways that raised questions about contraventions of essential human and constitutional rights.
A glaring example of this is found in the list of immigrants that the Trump administration sent to the Terrorism Confinement Centre in El Salvador. After some investigation, it was discovered that a large number of individuals exiled to this distressing location at the expense of U.S. taxpayers had not actually broken any immigration laws. Even more concerning was the fact that our government had apparently crossed a line and violated their basic human rights.
Among these unfortunate foreign nationals were several Venezuelans who had entered the U.S. through an authorization given by none other than the Biden administration. Some had even reached American soil as refugees or temporary visa holders. Despite their legal status, they were dispatched to indefinite confinement in harrowing circumstances, with no charges levied or trials conducted.
The residing conditions of these immigrants, both legal and illegal, in El Salvador are nothing but petrifying. A sizable portion of these individuals have no criminal records, haven’t been implicated in any crimes, and the only link to criminal activity is questionable evidence, such as body tattoos. Their situation can’t be simplified to mere ‘deportation.’ They were exiled to a foreign nation, not their home country, and were held prisoner under U.S. taxpayer expense in terrifying conditions.
This action of imprisoning individuals without charges or a trial justifying their guilt is a definite breach of the fundamental human right to due process. It’s also a blatant violation of the constitutional right to due process, rights that should be honored regardless of the immigrant’s legal status within the United States.
The unsettling truth is that none of these actions were necessary. The Trump administration had the option to adopt a usual deportation process for these individuals or formally press charges against them, followed by their imprisonment.
However, instead of adopting a humane approach, the administration decided to make a clear mockery of human rights and send a terrifying message to the world. This message insinuated that even legally residing individuals in the U.S. are not safe from the possibility of ending up under harrowing conditions with no rights or steps for recourse.
It’s undeniable that Trump was elected with a mandate to secure the southern border and reduce the number of unlawfully residing immigrants. However, there was no necessity for adopting the kinds of severe, dictatorial measures that his administration resorted to. Disappearing people to El Salvador was not part of the promise or requirement.
The Trump administration’s decision to advance with this intimidating and extreme approach will leave an indelible mark on its legacy of border control efforts. Ultimately, these actions can be seen not as an attempt to protect our country but rather as a means of imposing power and control.