The national conversation about immigrants often focuses on fear rather than fact, despite immigrants being essential contributors to the American economy, culture, and shared humanity. From farms that feed the nation to construction sites that build communities and innovation driving the economy forward, immigrants represent daily realities that enrich society rather than abstract ideals.
As an immigration attorney, Maribel A. Pizá witnesses firsthand the quiet heroism of parents sacrificing for children, young people striving for education against all odds, and families working to build dignified futures. These individuals embody the American Dream rather than threaten it, yet current policies often distort reality by focusing on exceptions rather than the overwhelming good.
The deeper principle at stake involves how the United States leads globally while upholding its constitutional guarantees. The Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments protect "persons" rather than exclusively "citizens," reflecting the Founders' vision that justice must be universal to be meaningful. When due process is denied to immigrants in courts and detention centers, it undermines both the spirit and letter of America's most sacred legal charter.
This selective application of due process creates a dangerous hypocrisy: condemning human rights violations abroad while excusing similar violations domestically. Such actions risk making the United States indistinguishable from the regimes it criticizes, eroding moral authority and global leadership. The nation faces a crossroads between honoring its constitutional and moral commitments or becoming what it once resisted.
The solution lies not in retreating into fear but in modeling the compassion and empathy that have always been America's truest strengths. Treating immigrants as human beings deserving dignity rather than statistics or scapegoats demonstrates leadership that inspires rather than justifies abuses elsewhere. The world watches whether America will embody its best instincts or mirror the worst.
