The Trump administration began its second term with the promise to deport “dangerous criminals” who are in our nation illegally. Their avowed focus would be on arresting and deporting perpetrators of violent crimes including rape or murder as well as those engaged in drug smuggling and human trafficking. This approach had widespread bipartisan support.
Yet by the end of this administration’s first 100 days, the definition of “dangerous criminals” worthy of deportation has drastically changed. Within the past week, there have been at least two cases in which undocumented mothers and their young children, some of whom are US citizens, were suddenly detained and deported to Honduras. One of these families includes a four year old with stage four cancer who has no means of continuing life saving treatment. One of the mothers was detained when she went to a scheduled immigration appointment after receiving a stay of deportation several years ago. That stay was removed without explanation, and she was held without the ability to communicate with family or her legal counsel. She was then deported and told that deporting the children was “her choice.” The two videos posted below summarize this tragic situation while also revealing the falsehoods and strategy behind the administration’s claims.
Now it is clear that the administration’s definition of “dangerous criminal” applies to anyone who is undocumented regardless of the absence of any criminal record or of contributions to their communities. This is not just a shift in immigration strategy. It is the active dehumanization of millions of people. While immigration reform is both important and necessary, it should never be done through propoganda that focuses on the need to deport violent offenders and then treats innocent men, women, and children as if they were all guilty of violent crimes. It is also clear that this wholesale categorization of undocumented people as “dangerous criminals” is racist since the vast majority of cases involve Latino people of color. For those of us who are committed to the Biblical truth that every person is made in the image of God, such dehumanization and racism needs to be revealed and resisted. The words of Jesus echo in our hearts, minds, and spirits, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me.” (Matthew 25: 40)