United States Bill of Rights: Government Shutdown 2019

I am a US army veteran and a federal employee, living paycheck to paycheck and this really sucks. I went through my savings and only have $11.37 to my name, when will this end?

-Ray Alcala #shutdownstories

Our son-in-law is active duty USCG. Our daughter swallowed her pride and visited the food bank event that was offered in their military housing development

-Olympia Harris #shutdownstories

On December 21, 2018 the US government did a partial shutdown (Berman, 2018). During this time, 380,000 non-critical employees were furloughed. Later 50,000 were to report back without pay and 420,000 crucial employees must work without pay (Kaufman & Murphy, 2019). This issue goes against many democratic principles, this discussion will focus on three of democratic principles that were influenced.

Separation of Powers

Principle in place that suggest bargaining, compromise, and playing one body against the other ("," 2019). Today shutdown does not follow this principle, because the lack of compromise by the different parties. Before the shutdown began, government branches were in negotiation on bills that needed to be funded (Collins, 2019). These bills included Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and funding for boarder security that included a boarder wall on the southern border (Collins, 2019). Per congress, Trump negotiation style proved to be difficult for deals to be reached. Because these deals were not passed, many people now are not receiving paychecks. has affected millions of families and will began to create a ripple effect in the economy. Going against this as influenced the Federal Employee Civil Relief Act bill which will protect the federal employees from:

• Eviction

• Foreclosure

• Car Repossession

• Falling behind on student loans

• Falling behind on other bills

• Losing healthcare coverage (Smith, 2019)

This protection is to last until the shutdown is over and 30 days after (Smith, 2019). The government should be able to compromise with this bill that protects the rights of the citizens of this country.

Rule of Law

the rule of law protects the rights of citizens, maintains order, and limits the power of government ("Democracy Education for Iraq—Nine Brief Themes," 2019). September 5, 2017 Trump administration terminated DACA which affected 800,000 young people that came to the US as babies and children at no fault of their own (Jawetz & Svglenka, 2017). In 2017 154,000 DACA was set to expire and only was given 30 days to submit applications for renewals (Jawetz & Svglenka, 2017). 22,000 did not meet this deadline and was at risk of being detained or deported (Jawetz & Svglenka, 2017). Loosing DACA:

• Forces people out of employment from loss of work permits

• Lost of Drivers Licenses

• Barrier to pursue higher education (Jawetz & Svglenka, 2017)

With no protection, a series of DACA was arrested and detained. Under the rule of law protection of citizens is the first rule. Why were these people separated from other citizen when all they know is the USA as home? Take one detainee, Daniel Ramirez Medina was arrested with his father, after noticing Daniel’s tattoo authorities associated it with a gang in Mexico (Medina, 2017). Coming here at the age of 7 years, he had no say so because he was a minor. The Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minor ACT (Dreamer) was introduced 16 years ago and failed (American Immigration Council, 2017). Under this act Dreamers would be given a path to become US citizens. Since 2001, there has been many versions of this Bill to be passed, but all keep failing. This lack of compromise from congress has led to the longest shutdown (American Immigration Council, 2017). Although the Dreamers are protected thanks to the appeals court in the 9th circuit, but this is not a permanent solution (Barnes, 2018). The rule of Law is broken due to this influence, because you have people not getting paid for their work or must stay home. When all citizens are equal under the law, the government should not be holding federal employees’ hostage over issues that can be bargained during an open government or because the president will lack compromising. Arresting DACA recipients went against the rule of no one may be arrested, imprisoned or exiled based on random choice or personal emotions ("Democracy Education for Iraq—Nine Brief Themes," 2019). How can we deny people the freedom without fair public hearing? Under this shutdown influences the immigration courts and the processing of applications for aliens seeking asylum and DACA renewals. The USA was created for people to come and live a dream other than the cultures they are from. Immigration is not a negative in my eyes because most people are immigrant or related to immigrants. Africans were brought here to be slaves and do the field work for the white supremacy. With today immigration you have people volunteering to come and do this work for little money causing crops and farms to prosper. Having 91% of DACA in the work force, we run the risk of losing important skilled workers (Jawetz & Svglenka, 2017). Through the rough time there is still hope.

Participation

Under this principle citizens participate in public affairs and are supposed to be informed of public issues ("Democracy Education for Iraq—Nine Brief Themes," 2019). This is so they can monitor the leaders and express their opinions. From voting to protesting we the people can create change in many policies ("Democracy Education for Iraq—Nine Brief Themes," 2019). With the low turnout in voting for the 2016 election, we now suffer one of the longest shutdowns in history so far. We have seen more protesting for women’s rights and the LGBT community as well. If we thought is could not get worst people are going hungry from not getting paid. But with participation many companies are stepping up to help even if it not much (Thrush, Bosman, & Johnson, 2019). Corporation are extending time for payment and cellphone companies are making payment arrangement (Thrush et al., 2019). Even though the shutdown has negative effects, it still influenced many positive effects as well. As Americans it is hard to believe people must sell belonging to cover most payments, this is something people to gain extra money or just to be rid of the items. Under public policy, this situation has also influence congress to pass the Federal Employee Civil Relief Act bill. With people stepping up for the federal employees being held hostage, one can only hope this will lead to the passing of this bill.

A government shutdown should be the last result in a political debate, not a campaign promise debate. Many have suffered and it will create a ripple effect on the American people. Unnecessary treatment of immigrants is not what makes America Great. With the unity of the people, we are beginning to see how powerful citizens participation can be.

References

American Immigration Council. (2017). The Dream Act, DACA, and Other Policies Designed to Protect Dreamers. Retrieved from https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/research/dream-act-daca-and-other-policies-designed-protect-dreamers

Barnes, R. (2018, Nov. 8, 2018). Trump can’t immediately end DACA, appeals court panel says, setting up Supreme Court fight. Washington Post. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/courts_law/trump-cant-end-daca-appeals-court-says-setting-up-supreme-court-fight/2018/11/08/4a76f928-e386-11e8-ab2c-b31dcd53ca6b_story.html?utm_term=.ffdec1071b03

Berman, R. (2018, JAN 20, 2018). The Real Reasons Why the Government Shut Down: . The Atlantic. Retrieved from https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/01/the-real-reasons-why-the-government-shut-down/551027/

Collins, M. (2019, Nov. 28, 2018). Another government shutdown? Congress has until Dec. 21 to pass a spending bill to keep the lights on. USA Today. Retrieved from https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-dreamers-california-daca-20170917-story.html

Democracy Education for Iraq—Nine Brief Themes. (2019). Retrieved from https://web.stanford.edu/~ldiamond/iraq/DemocracyEducation0204.htm

Jawetz, T., & Svglenka, N. P. (2017). Thousands of DACA Recipients Are Already Losing Their Protection from Deportation. Retrieved from https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/immigration/news/2017/11/09/442502/thousands-daca-recipients-already-losing-protection-deportation/

Kaufman, E., & Murphy, P. P. (2019, Jan. 2, 2019). Federal employees prepare for a long shutdown. CNN Politics. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/28/politics/shutdown-second-week/index.html

Medina, D. R. (2017). Daniel Ramirez Medina I’m a dreamer but immigration agents detained me anyway. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2017/03/13/im-a-dreamer-immigration-agents-detained-me-anyway/?utm_term=.0c1e8395ea21

Smith, I. (2019, Jan. 10, 2019). [Blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.fedsmith.com/2019/01/10/bill-aims-protect-federal-employees-foreclosures-repossessions-shutdown/

The Concepts and Fundamental Principles of Democracy. (2019). Retrieved from The Concepts and Fundamental Principles of Democracy

Thrush, G., Bosman, J., & Johnson, K. (2019). As Shutdown Drags On, Some Step Up to Help Unpaid Federal Workers. MSN News. Retrieved from https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/as-shutdown-drags-on-some-step-up-to-help-unpaid-federal-workers/ar-BBSmOZK

References

American Immigration Council. (2017). The Dream Act, DACA, and Other Policies Designed to Protect Dreamers. Retrieved from https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/research/dream-act-daca-and-other-policies-designed-protect-dreamers

Barnes, R. (2018, Nov. 8, 2018). Trump can’t immediately end DACA, appeals court panel says, setting up Supreme Court fight. Washington Post. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/courts_law/trump-cant-end-daca-appeals-court-says-setting-up-supreme-court-fight/2018/11/08/4a76f928-e386-11e8-ab2c-b31dcd53ca6b_story.html?utm_term=.ffdec1071b03

Berman, R. (2018, JAN 20, 2018). The Real Reasons Why the Government Shut Down: . The Alantic . Retrieved from https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/01/the-real-reasons-why-the-government-shut-down/551027/

Collins, M. (2019, Nov. 28, 2018). Another government shutdown? Congress has until Dec. 21 to pass a spending bill to keep the lights on. USA Today. Retrieved from https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-dreamers-california-daca-20170917-story.html

Democracy Education for Iraq—Nine Brief Themes. (2019). Retrieved from https://web.stanford.edu/~ldiamond/iraq/DemocracyEducation0204.htm

Jawetz, T., & Svglenka, N. P. (2017). Thousands of DACA Recipients Are Already Losing Their Protection from Deportation. Retrieved from https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/immigration/news/2017/11/09/442502/thousands-daca-recipients-already-losing-protection-deportation/

Kaufman, E., & Murphy, P. P. (2019, Jan. 2, 2019). Federal employees prepare for a long shutdown. CNN Politics. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/28/politics/shutdown-second-week/index.html

Medina, D. R. (2017). Daniel Ramirez Medina I’m a dreamer but immigration agents detained me anyway. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2017/03/13/im-a-dreamer-immigration-agents-detained-me-anyway/?utm_term=.0c1e8395ea21

Smith, I. (2019, Jan. 10, 2019). [Blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.fedsmith.com/2019/01/10/bill-aims-protect-federal-employees-foreclosures-repossessions-shutdown/

The Concepts and Fundamental Principles of Democracy. (2019). Retrieved from The Concepts and Fundamental Principles of Democracy

Thrush, G., Bosman, J., & Johnson, K. (2019). As Shutdown Drags On, Some Step Up to Help Unpaid Federal Workers. MSN News. Retrieved from https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/as-shutdown-drags-on-some-step-up-to-help-unpaid-federal-workers/ar-BBSmOZK