"If criminals fail to follow the law, does that mean the government shouldn’t follow the law either?
The purpose of due process is to make sure the government doesn’t punish innocent people. The way it works is that when the government makes an accusation against someone, that person is then allowed a court process where they can defend themselves. The purpose of this process is to make sure that the government can prove its case against someone before punishing them.
(...)
Of course, there are costs associated with court processes. Former President George W. Bush once acknowledged how liberal democracy can be inefficient: “If this were a dictatorship, this would be a heck of a lot easier. Just so long as I’m the dictator!”
But the cost of the government not being forced to prove its case before punishing people is that you end up punishing innocent people. There’s reporting out there that suggests the administration may be deporting people on the basis that they have football tattoos; the tattoos are alleged to be tied to the Venezuelan gang mentioned above.
Almost all Americans would say we don’t want violent criminals entering and residing in our country illegally. But did people really vote for Trump so that he would deport people based on mere suspicion without having to prove that the people being deported actually are violent criminals?"
https://www.theamericansaga.com/p/due-process-matters-because-we-dont
#USA #Trump #DueProcess #Deportations #Justice #RuleofLaw #Authoritarianism
The purpose of due process is to make sure the government doesn’t punish innocent people. The way it works is that when the government makes an accusation against someone, that person is then allowed a court process where they can defend themselves. The purpose of this process is to make sure that the government can prove its case against someone before punishing them.
(...)
Of course, there are costs associated with court processes. Former President George W. Bush once acknowledged how liberal democracy can be inefficient: “If this were a dictatorship, this would be a heck of a lot easier. Just so long as I’m the dictator!”
But the cost of the government not being forced to prove its case before punishing people is that you end up punishing innocent people. There’s reporting out there that suggests the administration may be deporting people on the basis that they have football tattoos; the tattoos are alleged to be tied to the Venezuelan gang mentioned above.
Almost all Americans would say we don’t want violent criminals entering and residing in our country illegally. But did people really vote for Trump so that he would deport people based on mere suspicion without having to prove that the people being deported actually are violent criminals?"
https://www.theamericansaga.com/p/due-process-matters-because-we-dont
#USA #Trump #DueProcess #Deportations #Justice #RuleofLaw #Authoritarianism
Due Process Matters Because We Don't Want to Punish Innocent People
The Trump administration is increasingly hostile to a foundation of American justice. Here's why that matters.Zaid Jilani (The American Saga)
