We are living through very troubling times as we bear witness to federal agents violating our fundamental rights and underlying values. The right to assemble. The right to protest. The right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures. The right to due process and equal protection. We are watching shocking governmental assaults on these rights that are unprecedented in scope and fury.
Our nation is in the midst of a crisis ostensibly about immigration. We are in conflict because our federal executive chose coercion over persuasion to resolve a complex issue. Immigration laws should reflect our core principles, but sadly they never have. I have a friend who leads Advocates for Human Rights in Minneapolis, and she recently shared this observation:
“These abuses didn’t begin with this operation; they have existed for decades, the result of an immigration system that fundamentally disregards international human rights standards. But this is when they must stop.”
It is up to us to bring a stop to these abuses. As we look forward, past these troubling times, it is no longer tenable to accept systems and legal frameworks that dehumanize and demean our families, neighbors, and communities. We must, and we can, do better. We can stand up to a government of the powerful and for the powerful and again aspire to be a nation built and nourished by commitment to our ideals.
At the ACLU of Alaska, we honor the core values that define us. We understand that whether we were born in Alaska, come from ancestors rooted here generations ago, or arrived more recently, we need each other. As Alaskans, we rely on each other when times are tough and the future feels uncertain.
Our work reflects that ethic. We share ways to protect our neighbors and businesses. We have Family Safety Planning Guides in multiple languages, we provide community trainings including “Know Your Rights”, and we are asking people to help us monitor and track immigration enforcement actions in Alaska. We continue to work with our federal delegation and will be in Juneau during the legislative session to fight for policies that advance our most fundamental rights.
Our work continues, and we move forward in this work rooted in our care for one another. We are grateful to be on this path with you.