Quick Hitter: The Laken Riley Argument
And Why It Is Mind-numbingly Stupid
It’s Wednesday and “border czar” Tom Homan is talking to cameras again. And he is, again, using the absolutely brain-dead argument that Kilmar Abrego Garcia “got more due process than Laken Riley got.”
Just… Ugh. This is such a stupid argument, and yet it is the go-to when all of these MAGA talking heads discuss this situation. Let’s consider this:
Due process, as defined in the 5th and 14th Amendments, specifically prohibits the government from depriving persons within the United States of their “life, liberty, or property”.
Laken Riley got zero due process from her killer. Abrego Garcia got zero due process from the government. Zero is not greater than zero, so Homan’s argument falls flat out of the gate.
Laken Riley was the victim. Yes, what happened to her was horrible, there is no argument there. It would have been horrible had it been a US citizen or an immigrant who killed her. No one argues that her death is a tragedy. That said, we generally do not ascribe due process to the victim of a crime.
Riley’s murderer was arrested, charged with her murder, and is going through the justice system, as he should. Ironically, he is the only person in my little explanation here who is being afforded the Constitutionally protected right to due process, as he should. If and when he is found guilty of his crime, he will be punished accordingly, and there can be no basis for appeal, at least not due to a violation of said Constitutional rights.
Abrego Garcia, on the other hand, has not been charged with any crime. Sure, the administration claims that he has been “convicted” of being a member of the MS-13 gang (he has not, this is a figment of the MAGA imagination… and as far as I know there is no Maryland or Federal law that makes (alleged) gang membership a crime). To be clear, the full and complete extent of his “crime” is comprised of statements made, without evidence, by the administration. In fact, the judge in his case has demanded, multiple times, for the government to provide evidence of these claims, and the best they can come up with is a Gang Information form completed by a since-fired cop.
Setting all of that aside, the glaring problem with this line of argument from the government is that the analogy puts the government on the level of Riley’s killer. Laken Riley was denied due process by her murderer. Abrego Garcia is being denied due process by… the US Government?
Really?
This is how you want to frame your argument?
Thing is, it’s easy to remember, and a good portion of this country won’t make the connection. Which is kinda how we got here in the first place.
Last thing: I can’t imagine being Laken Riley’s family. It would infuriate me to no end to have her name brought up as a cudgel in so many political arguments. It’s really fucking disgusting.
Take Care and Stay Strong, Together