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By Aion and John Ashmead Brodie, Human Renaissance Movement
Rodney Taylor is a Georgia barber, a father, a fiancée, a community volunteer—and a double amputee. He’s also currently imprisoned by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), facing deportation to a country he hasn’t seen since he was a toddler. His “crime”? A burglary conviction at age 19—for which he was pardoned in 2010.
He is not alone.
In Trump’s second term, the immigration enforcement machine has accelerated, casting a wide net that now includes green card holders, lifelong residents, and individuals like Taylor who are legally pursuing permanent residency. Fueled by databases flagging old convictions—some decades old—ICE is detaining people who have lived as contributing members of American society for most of their lives.
Their stories raise a difficult but urgent question:
Is this the America we are proud of?
A Nation Built on Second Chances?
Rodney’s story reflects the uneasy intersection of justice, compassion, and politics. Pardoned over a decade ago, he built a life grounded in service: offering free haircuts at local events, raising awareness about health issues, and planning outreach for those in need.
“I try to do good. I try to do stuff for my community. Help people out. And it seems like all that doesn’t matter,” he said from Stewart Detention Center.
A country that forgives—or claims to—is punishing him again.
And the punishment isn’t just legal—it’s physical. As a double amputee who relies on prosthetics and regular medical care, Rodney’s condition is deteriorating in custody. The facility is not equipped to meet his basic needs.
A Father Separated, a Family Broken
Meanwhile, in Virginia, Alfredo Orellana, a 31-year-old caretaker for a man with severe autism, was detained returning from a short vacation. He’s married to a U.S. citizen, has lived here since he was four years old, and was expecting his first child.
His crime? A misdemeanor from 2017 involving less than $200—enough, under current policy, to trigger deportation proceedings.
Orellana’s wife, now six months pregnant, is struggling to hold their life together alone. The family who depends on him—not least his autistic client—has been left in anguish.
Fifty Years in America—and Still Not Safe
Lewelyn Dixon has lived in the United States for over 50 years. A green card holder and lab technician at the University of Washington, she was detained after returning from the Philippines with no warning, allegedly due to a 2001 embezzlement conviction her family had never heard of.
Now 64, she is being held in an ICE facility in Washington State. Her crime? Forgetting a ham sandwich in her luggage last year, which triggered extra scrutiny and ultimately exposed her to the ICE dragnet.
She is now helping other detainees with legal paperwork, continuing to serve others even while behind bars.
Is Due Process Disappearing?
Even students and academics are at risk. Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish doctoral student at Tufts University, was detained in Massachusetts after voicing pro-Palestinian views. Her visa was revoked and she was accused—without evidence—of “supporting Hamas.”
A federal judge has temporarily blocked her deportation. Civil rights organizations, including the ACLU, have stepped in, citing violations of free speech and due process.
What Kind of Nation Do We Choose to Be?
For many Americans, immigration enforcement conjures images of protecting borders and removing dangerous criminals. But the reality is increasingly blurred, sweeping in long-time residents, community leaders, and people who made a mistake in their youth—people who’ve since paid their dues and given back tenfold.
Are we truly safer by deporting Rodney Taylor, who has given haircuts to cancer patients and organized health fairs?
Are we proud to detain Alfredo Orellana, separating him from his pregnant wife and the special needs family he’s served?
Are we upholding our values by imprisoning a 64-year-old woman who has lived here since childhood because of a two-decade-old conviction?
Are we defending democracy when we silence student dissent with threats of deportation?
A Call to Conscience
These stories aren’t isolated—they’re a warning. When justice becomes cold, when laws are enforced without compassion, when discretion is abandoned in favor of political theater, we risk losing the soul of our nation.
The greatness of America has always been in its promise—not perfection, but possibility. A second chance. A belief in redemption. A place where your future matters more than your past.
So we ask again:
Is this the America you are proud of?
Because if not, we must stand up. We must speak out. And we must act now to ensure that our nation lives up to its highest ideals—not just for citizens, but for all who call this land home.