We’ve been seeing the relentless march of ICE officials.
First, they hunted undocumented workers in Los Angeles, then Oxnard, Ventura, and Carpinteria.
The workers that they are hunting are essential to our economy, often doing vital yet low-paying jobs. What’s more, they are protected by the U.S. Constitution. The Fifth Amendment clearly states: “No person shall … be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.” The courts have affirmed that “person” applies to everyone on U.S. soil, not just citizens. Even Founding Father James Madison stated that non-citizen “aliens,” since they are obligated to obey the laws of the Constitution, “are entitled, in return, to their protection and advantage.”
Even if one thinks that entering the United States illegally and working here is a crime that merits deportation, those workers are legally entitled to due process, with a trial and the full protection of the U.S. legal system, just like anybody else.
George R. Hansen
Arroyo Grande
This article appears in Jul 31 – Aug 10, 2025.