A POSSE AD ESSE
a portrait series inspired by the grievances from immigration deportation law
The history of immigration deportation in the United States dates back to the late 19th century, with the passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which banned Chinese immigrants from entering the country. This followed a series of laws of policies targeting immigrants, the Immigration Act of 1917, which barred immigrants from certain countries, and the National Origins Act of 1924, which established quotas based on national origin.
During the Great Depression in the 1930s, the U.S. government began to deport Mexican immigrants en masse, in what was known as the “Mexican Repatriation” program. Hundreds of thousands of Mexicans, many of whom were U.S. citizens or were deported to Mexico, often under harsh and inhumane conditions.
In the 1950s and 1960s, the U.S. government targeted immigrants who were suspected of having ties to communism, leading to the deportation of thousands of people.
During the 1980s and 1990s, the U.S. government had a growing number of detainees in immigration detention centers due to the movements from the War on Drugs. Deemed dangerous, a significant number of immigrants were rapidly deported.
In recent years, the U.S. government has continued to prioritize deportations of immigrants that was deemed dangerous. However, there have been significant problems with the immigration detention system, including allegations of mistreatment and abuse of detainees, as well as deaths due to lack of medical care and other factors.
Additionally, the conditions in immigration detention facilities have been a major problem, with reports of overcrowding, lack of access to medical care, and other issues leading to inhumane conditions for detainees. In some cases, these conditions have contributed to deaths of detainees.
There have been numerous issues revolving around biases in deporting immigrants throughout U.S. history. One major problem has been discrimination against certain groups of immigrants based on race, ethnicity, religion, or other factors.
For example, during the Chinese Exclusion Act era, Chinese immigrants were specifically targeted for deportation based on their race. Similarly, in the post-9/11 era, Muslim immigrants have been subjected to increased scrutiny and discrimination in immigration enforcement.
Overall, the history of immigration deportation in the U.S. has been marked by significant challenges and controversies, as the government has attempted to balance national security concerns with humanitarian concerns for immigrants.
Immigration policies and practices have also been influenced by broader societal biases and stereotypes. Immigrants from Mexico and Central America have been disproportionately targeted for deportation in recent years, due to negative stereotypes about these groups.
Biases can influence decision-making at various stages of the deportation process. Immigration judges may be influenced by their own biases when making decisions about whether to grant asylum or other forms of relief from deportation. Immigration enforcement officers may also be influenced by biases when targeting individuals for deportation or deciding how to treat them during the deportation process.
Another issue is that biases can be reinforced by the policies and practices of immigration enforcement agencies. For example, the use of racial profiling by immigration officers can lead to the targeting of individuals based on their perceived race or ethnicity. Similarly, policies that prioritize the deportation of certain groups of immigrants, such as those with criminal records, can have a disproportionate impact on certain communities.
Overall, biases in deporting immigrants can have serious consequences for individuals and communities, leading to discrimination, violations of human rights, and a lack of due process in immigration proceedings.
Please read my research on Risk Assessments in Immigration Law linked below.
© 2023 Raymond Ng