WASHINGTON, DC — SALDEF (Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund) condemns the unlawful detainment of immigrant students, including green card holders, without the recognition of their right to due process. Unlawful detention in the absence of credible evidence sets a dangerous precedent; as does apparent retaliation and targeting by executive agencies for dissent and peaceful protest. When Constitutional rights are selectively or politically enforced, the very foundation of our democratic institutions is further eroded.
“The Administration sets a dangerous precedent by disregarding due process for green card holders and lawful permanent residents detained solely because they expressed their opinions. This is an unprecedented attack on the right to free speech and it has dangerous implications for immigrant communities across the nation,” said Kiran Kaur Gill, Executive Director of SALDEF.
“The First Amendment and generations of American law and jurisprudence make clear that our government cannot punish protected speech, especially without reading an individual their rights or formally charging them with an activity defined as illegal in a law passed by Congress and presenting evidence in court. We remain committed to advocating for humane immigration policies for all and for the federal government to uphold its standards of strict adherence to the rule of law.”
SALDEF urges lawmakers to defend the ability of all immigrants to safely exercise their constitutional right to free speech without fear of being targeted for political retribution. We call on the Trump administration to uphold the First Amendment’s enshrining of free speech and the Fifth Amendment’s guarantee of due process to all, regardless of their immigration status.
- For Students: Click here for an FAQ about immigration enforcement on campuses.
- For Sikh Americans: Click here to print your own red cards or call SALDEF to have some sent directly to you and your sangat.
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