I am in Brownsville Tx at the Mexican border where daily there are hearings for asylum seekers to make their claim to remain in this country out of fear for their safety. The “courts” are in tents with judges seen and heard on giant monitors. It is all very democratic-seeming with rules that are insane…straight out of Alice in Wonderland and George Orwell’s 1984. The judge tells them: “This is an adversarial process. You need a lawyer to help you make a claim, but Homeland Securities’ lawyers will argue your coming here to make this claim is criminal.” The appearance of due process is seen to be maintained, but the essence of due process–the cornerstone of democracy– has been eliminated. I heard this judge with my own ears and my blood froze.
Comments are closed.
Thank you, Carolyn, for writing this. Your references to Alice in Wonderland and 1984 are, indeed, chilling. Thank you for reminding us how deceiving appearances can be, especially from those in power.