The current climate surrounding immigration enforcement is more than troubling—it’s unconstitutional. Recent events in Charlotte, North Carolina, have brought these issues alarmingly close to home, reminding us that the principles we claim to uphold are being eroded in plain sight.
This is not about politics or party lines. It’s about the constitutional principles that define us as a nation and the human dignity that should never be compromised. This post is not intended to create debate—it is intended to share perspective from someone who works daily in immigration and sees the human cost of policies that fail to honor the law.
The Fourteenth Amendment guarantees that “no State shall… deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws” (U.S. Const. amend. XIV). This protection applies to all persons, regardless of immigration status. The Supreme Court affirmed this in Plyler v. Doe, 457 U.S. 202 (1982), holding that undocumented individuals are entitled to due process and equal protection.
Racial Profiling Is Not “Normal”—It’s Unlawful and Dehumanizing
The resurgence of racial profiling in immigration enforcement is unconstitutional, corrosive to public trust, and fundamentally dehumanizing. When individuals are reduced to stereotypes based on race, language, or heritage, their dignity and legal rights are stripped away. The Department of Justice prohibits racial profiling in law enforcement (DOJ Guidance on Racial Profiling, 2014), and courts have recognized that enforcement actions based on race or ethnicity violate the Equal Protection Clause (Whren v. United States, 517 U.S. 806 (1996)).
“Do It the Right Way” Rings Hollow
We often hear, “Do it the right way.” But when individuals comply with lawful procedures—attending their USCIS interviews, immigration court or reporting for check-ins—yet face arrest or detention, the integrity of our legal system collapses. Congress established removal proceedings under 8 U.S.C. § 1229a to ensure fairness, not punishment for compliance. Indefinite detention has been curtailed by the Supreme Court in Zadvydas v. Davis, 533 U.S. 678 (2001).
Immigrants Are America’s Backbone
Immigrants are not the downfall of this nation—they are its foundation. They serve as workers, educators, healthcare providers, and entrepreneurs. According to the American Immigration Council, immigrants comprise a significant share of essential workers and contribute billions to the U.S. economy (Immigrants in the United States: Essential Workers, 2021).
A Call for Empathy and Education
Many of my clients live this reality every day. If you’ve never had to translate government letters for your parents at age seven, fear checkpoints, or watch your family work twice as hard to be treated half as decent, then respectfully—listen before you speak. Learn the process. Understand the struggle. Empathy will take us farther than ignorance ever will.
And I say this not only as an attorney but as someone who grew up in Puerto Rico—a U.S. citizen by birth—yet still feels fear today. For me, it’s the sound of my voice that makes me vulnerable. For others, it may be the color of their skin, their accent, or simply their name. These markers should never determine how someone is treated, yet too often they do. That fear is real, and it should never be normalized. What makes this even harder to reconcile is that my own child serves in the U.S. Armed Forces, defending the very freedoms that should protect us all. Yet, despite that sacrifice, I still worry about being treated as “less than” because of language or heritage. That contradiction speaks volumes about the work we still have to do.
As an immigration attorney, I welcome dialogue. I am committed to educating those willing to listen because understanding the law—and the human stories behind it—is the first step toward justice. Diversity is not a threat; it is America’s strength. If that makes you uncomfortable, perhaps it’s time to reconsider what “American values” truly mean.