In 100 Days, Trump Has Changed the Meaning of Citizenship

The pace of change in the United States during the first 100 days of his second term has been lightning fast. Because Trump has substantially changed so many things it is difficult to focus on everything, everywhere at all once.

But some things are bound to catch more attention than others as is the case with immigration. Aside from deporting people here illegally, the Trump Administration has been trying to deport people who were allowed to remain in this country (Kilmar Abrego Garcia), strip people of their visas by detaining them in broad daylight (Rumeysa Ozturk) and detain people with green cards (Mahmoud Khalil). 

At the same time, the Trump Administration is also trying to change the meaning of American citizenship. They are trying to make it a commodity which one can lose at a moment's notice like a 401(k). Trump has made it be known that he intends to deport American citizens with violent criminal records. Yet how long will it be before Trump will see fit to deport American citizens who do not agree with his policies?

There are U.S. citizens, born in this country, who are receiving letters telling them they have 7 days to leave the country. U.S. Custom and Border Protection says these are sent in error. Well, the Trump Administration also sent its letter to Harvard University in error and deported Kilmar Abrego Garcia in error. Yet the Administration's demands to Harvard are on while Abrego Garcia is in an El Salvadoran prison. So, you'll have to forgive me if I don't find CBP's assurances very reassuring.

With tensions between the United States and Canada at an all-time high, I wouldn't be surprised if dual American-Canadian citizens start getting letters being told they have been stripped of their citizenship and have a week to leave the country. 

If I get such a letter, my response to them is, "You and what army?"

For better or for worse (and probably for worse for the foreseeable future) the United States is my home. If I think it is fundamentally wrong for a law firm to cut deal with the Trump Administration telling them who they can and cannot represent, then it would be wrong for me to accept the terms of any such letter were it to be sent to my attention. 

I am an American citizen, and no presidential administration can arbitrarily take that away from me or anyone just because they don't like something we said or did in the normal course of exercising our First Amendment rights.