Page 27 - The Indian EYE 121225

IMMIGRATION DECEMBER 12, 2025 | The Indian Eye 27

taxpayer money and needless trauma justify his administration’s wantonly uation. Notwithstanding the extreme Contrary to Trump’s unhinged
for the family and kids. The only ra- cruel attacks on immigrants and now vetting measures he was subjected to, post, we must remember that immi-
tionale behind this policy is to inflict will use the shootings of the Nation- Lakanwal still shot at the National grants have played a crucial role in
cruelty, designed and implemented al Guard members to further restrict Guar members, which resulted in the making America great, and restrict-
by either xenophobic or sadistic offi- immigration. senseless death of Sarah Beckstrom. ing immigration based on isolated
cials under Trump, or a combination The need of the hour is to advo- It appears that Lakanwal got radi- incidents will only rob the nation of
of both, who have no sympathy or cate that one person’s bad acts should calized in the US and no amount of their talents and contributions.
compassion towards people who are not taint all immigrants. Indeed, vetting may have prevented his entry In conclusion, it is imperative
immigrating to the US legally under Lakanwal went through extreme vet- into the US. The next shooter may that we resist the temptation to re-
the INA and to unite with US citi- ting measures when they came to the well be a homegrown American who spond to tragedy with fear-driven
zens they love. US and applied for political asylum. probably has never stepped foot out- policies. Instead, we should strive
There has been a dark history in Before his arrival, Lakanwal worked side the US. It is also worth pointing for solutions that uphold the values
the US resulting in the scapegoating with the US government, including out that there was no need for Trump of liberty and justice, ensuring that
of immigrants in times of crisis. A the CIA as a member of a partner to place members of the National America – a nation of immigrants –
recent example was the restrictions force in Kandahar, Afghanistan, from Guard in DC and other cities in the remains a beacon of hope and oppor-
imposed on noncitizens after the 2011 until shortly after the US evac- first place. tunity for all.
September 11, 2001 attack, which ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
included the NSEERS program that
resulted in religious, racial and eth- Cyrus D. Mehta, a graduate of Cambridge University and Columbia Law School, is the Managing Partner of Cyrus D. Mehta & Part-
nic profiling (see Have We Learned ners PLLC in New York City. Mr. Mehta is a member of AILA’s Administrative Litigation Task Force; AILA’s EB-5 Committee; former
the Lessons of History? World War chair of AILA’s Ethics Committee; special counsel on immigration matters to the Departmental Disciplinary Committee, Appellate Di-
II Japanese Internment and Today’s vision, First Department, New York; member of the ABA Commission on Immigration; board member of Volunteers for Legal Services
Secret Detentions by Stanley Mark,
Suzette Brooks Masters and Cyrus and board member of New York Immigration Coalition. Mr. Mehta is the former chair of the Board of Trustees of the American Im-
D. Mehta). The delicate balance we migration Council and former chair of the Committee on Immigration and Nationality Law of the New York City Bar Association. He
strive to achieve as a nation between is a frequent speaker and writer on various immigration-related issues, including on ethics, and is also an adjunct professor of law at
liberty and security inevitably tips to- Brooklyn Law School, where he teaches a course entitled Immigration and Work. Mr. Mehta received the AILA 2018 Edith Lowenstein
wards security, and civil liberties tend Memorial Award for advancing the practice of immigration law and the AILA 2011 Michael Maggio Memorial Award for his outstand-
to be compromised. While there can
never be a justification to go after im- ing efforts in providing pro bono representation in the immigration field. He has also received two AILA Presidential Commendations
migrants in a time of genuine crisis, in 2010 and 2016. Mr. Mehta is ranked among the most highly regarded lawyers in North America by Who’s Who Legal – Corporate
Trump has manufactured a crisis to Immigration Law 2019 and is also ranked in Chambers USA and Chambers Global 2019 in immigration law, among other rankings.

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