Guilt by Association

By: Elián Zidán

No exceptions. No gray areas. That’s how the U.S. is carrying out mass deportations of undocumented immigrants.

The official line is that the focus is on criminals—those who pose a threat to society. But the reality playing out on social media tells a different story.

In Chicago, immigration agents raided a home, dragged an entire family—including young children—onto the street, and arrested a man who wasn’t even their target. When asked about it, Border Czar Tom Homan brushed it off as "collateral damage."

Yes, criminals exist—people who make a living off crime. But the Trump administration’s approach paints all undocumented immigrants with the same broad brush. The logic? Entering the country without authorization is, in itself, a crime.

But what really makes someone a criminal? We think of murderers, rapists, thieves. Do we put in the same category those fleeing from them, desperate for a chance at a better life?

Crossing a border illegally isn’t the right way to do it—just like we wouldn’t accept a stranger walking into our home uninvited. But this is where the debate between law and humanity gets complicated.

It's easy to judge from a place of comfort. It takes far more effort to understand why someone would leave everything behind, risk their life on a dangerous journey, and arrive in a country where they don’t speak the language or know the rules.

Yes, the recent surge in migration has included criminals who have brought fear to communities unprepared for such threats. But this isn’t a new story—history is full of moments where fear turns into blanket xenophobia.

Defending undocumented immigrants is tricky because, technically, they broke the law. But context matters. Not everyone is the same, and they shouldn’t be treated as such.

For decades, immigrant labor has been a backbone of the U.S. economy. Most have worked hard, built lives, and contributed to their communities. Yet under current policy, they share the same legal fate as those who commit real crimes.

The challenge isn’t about punishing everyone equally—it’s about finding the balance between security and humanity. Beyond politics, we need to separate those who seek a better life from those who pose a real threat. Because right now, too many people are being treated like criminals for nothing more than the place they were born.