The Vanishing Line of Due Process
CASE A: The Irish Man in El Paso Newsweek reports the case of an unnamed Irish national, held by ICE in El Paso, Texas, despite actively pursuing a green card application. He has reportedly resided in the U.S. for 20 years. The article frames his detention as a personal tragedy, highlighting the emotional distress and the 'torture' of his family. This case is presented as an anomaly, a harsh
outcome for someone seemingly integrating into American society. The prevailing narrative suggests a bureaucratic misstep or an overly zealous application of immigration law. The focus is on the individual's suffering and the specific details of his green card application process – an internal, procedural issue. The framing: 'ICE Holds Man in Green Card Process Months After 20 Years in US:
'Torture''. The implication is that this prolonged detention is an unfortunate, perhaps unintended, byproduct of a complex system. CASE B: The Selective Enforcement of Immigration Law Contrast this with the treatment of individuals who have entered the U.S. without authorization from specific geopolitical 'adversaries' or those whose presence serves a particular foreign policy agenda. For
instance, consider the expedited processing and asylum pathways often allocated to dissidents from Cuba or Venezuela, even those with considerably shorter stays or less established ties to the U.S. In 2023, the Biden administration rolled out specific parole programs for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans, allowing them to enter and work legally for up to two years, a stark contrast to