Due process used to be something people took for granted. We lived under the rule of law, believing that everyone had the right to face a judge and defend themselves. But with Trump taking control of America once again, due process, law, and basic fairness seem to have been thrown out the window. His followers are becoming bolder and less willing to hide what they truly think. Among them is Indiana Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith. He recently faced major backlash after his response during a town hall meeting in Terre Haute, Indiana. It all started when attendees brought up the issue of people being detained by ICE and thrown into camps. With the exception of the extremists, most people agree that locking up immigrants without due process is blatantly unconstitutional.
One woman asked Micah Beckwith directly whether those held in the camps would at least get their day in court. Beckwith responded by asking whether the immigrants were “illegal” or not. His answer sparked immediate pushback. Several attendees pointed out that many of the people ICE detains don’t even get a chance to speak on their own behalf before being locked away. One participant even compared the camps to the internment camps under Nazi rule.
Still, Beckwith doubled down. He claimed those “illegal aliens” had no right to see a judge, calling them “invaders” and insisting that ICE and DHS were simply defending America. At one point, the Indiana man even compared ICE skipping due process to America’s response to the attack on Pearl Harbor.
As the room grew more tense, Beckwith pushed further, asking one woman how many “illegals” she had “brought into her house.” The Indiana woman, stunned and furious, could only shout back, “What the f***?!”
Needless to say, it wasn’t just the town hall attendees who were angry and shocked. Countless internet users also voiced their outrage at Beckwith’s response. One user wrote, “This is what happens when you elect trash. Trash in, trash out.”
Others were horrified by Beckwith’s comparison of immigrants being deported without due process to the attack on Pearl Harbor. “Why is he comparing another country’s armed forces attacking U.S. soil during a world war to regular people seeking a better life?” one commenter asked.
Many also pointed out that Beckwith’s argument about “legality” didn’t even hold up. Given how aggressive and careless ICE has been, how could they be sure they were even targeting the right people without due process? There have already been multiple cases of legal U.S. citizens being wrongfully deported, and critics argue this is exactly why constitutional protections matter.
