Crossing Borders

The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ASPA as an organization.

By Sarah Sweeney
June 9, 2025

In a recent New York Times article, increasing numbers of tourists have been detained at the US border for reasons at times unknown to the traveler. Some have been deported and others kept waiting after days and sometimes weeks in detention facilities. Border officials have the task of permitting or denying entry into the country, usually after asking routine questions of those looking to enter. There have been ongoing bursts of deportations as part of the administration’s focus on immigration and quickly moving toward un-shielding previously protected groups of people. Homeland Security has been tasked with removing temporary protected status for Venezuelans, Haitians, Cubans and Nicaraguans and more recently Afghans and Cameroonians. It has been fascinating to bear witness to the swift retribution that has been imposed on people in the country who have come to improve their lives and the lives of their loved ones back home through opportunities to find employment and social supports to become gainfully employed, which in turn contributes to our economic health and wellbeing. While there are ways in which some of these residents can remain in the country legally, it seems the fight against them is stacking up with complications.

There are news stories that have been shared about migrants who’ve followed rules or processes relating to immigration who have been targeted for removal and picked up in courthouses across America, which has led to increased fear and surprise by advocates and attorneys assigned to assist them. While the administration has encouraged these processes out of concern for “dangerous criminals,” more often they are people awaiting court dates for legal proceedings. I am concerned that our courts are being targeted and infiltrated by wayward characters out to cause trouble. It is disheartening to learn about the lines being crossed and confidences broken and I can only hope before too long we can push to find our voices as public administrators at our local levels and fight injustice. It is our duty to protect our communities and the residents that call them home.

I recently had the pleasure of visiting Costa Rica and Nicaragua, two beautifully lush and tropical destinations. I feel sincere privilege to travel internationally for vacation and I admit that I could not help but feel a sense of unease as I approached the border crossings, passport in hand ready to explore new lands. Knowing full well how my home country has been treating peoples from these countries, how might I be received? How easy could it have been for these countries to detain me for reasons unknown and for days or weeks at a time? Thankfully I did not encounter any troubles moving between countries, but always in the back of my mind a sort of hypervigilance remained. Standing in line awaiting my turn to move through the immigration process, I was acutely aware of my surroundings and my limitations as a monolingual visitor. I was able to empathize, rather simplistically, how the process can be for immigrants coming to America, unable to speak the language or understand the complex process at border crossings.

As public administrators we can learn valuable lessons from experiences such as these, to know and understand how to do better in the future. Human rights and the dignity of the person, our values in public service and the importance of leadership and guidance for our constituency are all ways in which we can improve. America has its national anthem, which can be interpreted as the values of diversity and culture across time. How often do we hear it, sing along to it and never truly understand its meaning? It has been transformed since its inception, but at its core it will forever be remembered as a touchstone: land of the free and home of the brave. We must find a way as public leaders to live up to this message and provide enduring safety and security for all those within our community. I am reminded of the four pillars of what we public administrators represent and they are accountability and performance, professionalism, ethics and social equity. It is through these values that we must serve our communities and move toward a more socially just future for every person who calls America home. We must push back against complacency and do what is right for our neighbors. We have an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of those who believe in the American Dream and who risk their lives and safety to find solace behind our borders.

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Author: Sarah Sweeney is a professional social worker and public administrator in Washington State. She may be contacted at [email protected]

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