US Appeals Latest Ruling, Blames 'Judicial Activism' When Detainee Freed
When Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran man, was freed from US immigration detention, Al Jazeera’s report highlighted the Department of Homeland Security's swift condemnation of the ruling as “naked judicial activism.” Funny, isn't it? When courts uphold inhumane indefinite detentions, it's 'rule of law.' But when they dare to apply due process for non-citizens, it's an 'activist' affront. This
pattern isn't new; it's the standard refrain whenever a legal challenge threatens the carceral nature of US immigration policy, a system that detained an average of 45,000 people daily in 2019, costing taxpayers billions annually without due process for many. This isn't about 'rule of law'; it’s about controlling narratives and deflecting any responsibility for an immigration system that routinely
violates basic human rights. The US, which so readily critiques human rights abuses abroad, conveniently labels domestic judicial interventions as 'activism' when they push back against its own extensive detention apparatus. One might wonder where the 'judicial activism' claims are when courts greenlight deportations to countries known for violence and instability.