Balancing Safety and Human Rights

In the United States today, immigration enforcement has increased in visibility and scope.

Supporters view it as maintaining order. Critics raise questions about oversight,

due process, and how enforcement impacts communities. History shows that many governments

— across different countries and time periods — expanded enforcement powers during moments of

fear or uncertainty. In early 20th-century Europe, one government began by increasing police

authority, using detention laws, and labeling certain groups as “security

risks.” At the time, much of it was considered legal and necessary. The lesson from history isn’t about

labeling modern institutions. It’s about understanding how power expands and why transparency