Question

1.a) How is the interplay between the US Immigration and Naturalization Act (1965), President Trump’s Executive Order on Immigration, and The Federal Courts’ ruling that the Executive Order is illegal and unconstitutional, an example of the Constitutional Principle of Checks and Balances?

1.b) How is the issue of immigration and citizenship relevant to a discussion on civil rights?

Answer 1

1.A

The principle of check and balances helps in controlling the unconstitutional action of one branch of the government by another branch of the government. The given case is also an example of this principle. The executive order is passed by the president as an executive branch and it is the right given by the US constitution. But, US constitution also ensures that no order should supersede the guidelines of it and or the rights given to the people as a part of the constitution. This is protected by the judiciary branch of the government. Hence, when Mr. Trump passed an executive order using his rights, then it was challenged by the rights given to people by the US constitution and put a case in the court. As a result, court reviewed the order, found it unconstitutional and and passed necessary directives. It made the principle of check and balance to work in this case.

1.B

Civil rights help not only ensuring rights granted to the every individuals, but also prevents discrimination on the basis of race, religion, sex and other basis mentioned in title VII of the civil rights act. These rights can be violated when immigration and citizenship issue come and authorities can be biased against people from specific countries. It means that there is an scope of violation of civil rights . It makes these issues very sensitive and relevant to the civil rights granted to the people.