Guidelines For Capstone Essay Due April 18

Guidelines For Capstone Essaydue April 18 Written Assignment 50 Poi

The distribution of justice in our society is not always fair and inequalities exist in relation to race, ethnicity, class, gender, sexual orientation and age. Discriminatory practices and social injustices are inherent in the major institutions of our society: the workforce, educational system, criminal justice system, the legal system, religious institutions and the media. Social injustices have serious consequences on the life experiences of individuals. This capstone essay challenges students from all three concentrations to discuss a current social injustice in the United States.

Students are to draw from previous coursework and prior research, answering one of the following questions related to a social injustice:

1. Are all groups that become involved with the criminal justice system treated equally? Consider issues such as differential arrest and incarceration rates among minority groups, disparity in sentencing, or racial profiling.
2. Discuss discriminatory practices affecting undocumented immigrants in the U.S. and examine the positive and/or negative consequences of illegal immigration on these individuals and society at large.
3. Evaluate whether juries reflect community diversity and protect the right to a fair and impartial trial, including the consequences of current jury selection practices.
4. Analyze if discrimination within legal professions leads to social injustices, focusing on hiring, promotion, pay disparities, or other manifestations of discrimination.
5. Choose a social injustice you are passionate about and propose solutions, such as new policies, legislation, or social movements, with instructor approval.

Your discussion must include:

• Historical background of the injustice
• The institution perpetuating it
• The most affected minority group
• Negative outcomes or personal consequences for those targeted
• The societal costs (financial or resource loss)
• Proposed solutions or interventions

The paper should be 5-6 pages long, cite at least 3 recent scholarly sources, include in-text citations in APA format, and have a reference list. Use 12-point font, double spacing, and one-inch margins. All work must be submitted via Turnitin by the due date, and prior work can be used as a foundation, with less than 50% overlap.

Follow the essay format outlined in the Hacker & Sommers manual (pages 69-73), ensuring a continuous, well-organized flow without section headers or subheaders.

Paper For Above instruction

The Injustice of the Trump Administration Zero Tolerance Policy

The zero-tolerance immigration policy implemented by the Trump administration has led to widespread family separations at the U.S.-Mexico border, creating profound social and moral issues. This policy mandated the criminal prosecution of all individuals crossing the border unlawfully, which resulted in thousands of children being forcibly separated from their parents and detained in facilities far from their families, causing significant trauma and suffering.

The institution responsible for perpetuating this injustice primarily includes the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the executive branch's policies under President Donald Trump. These agencies enacted and enforced the zero-tolerance policy, which prioritized criminal prosecution over humane treatment of immigrants. The most affected group comprises migrant families, particularly those from Mexico, Central America, and other vulnerable populations seeking asylum or better opportunities.

Statistics demonstrate the scope of this injustice. According to U.S. government reports, approximately 65 children are separated from their parents daily, amounting to over 2,300 children separated within a two-month period. Personal accounts, such as that of Yolanda de la Cruz, reveal the traumatic effects on children, including psychological distress and long-lasting emotional scars. The separation also caused direct social costs, including an estimated operational expense exceeding $5 million for temporary detention facilities that often housed children for nearly two months, emphasizing the financial burden on resources.

The policy's history traces back to Attorney General Jeff Sessions' announcement in April 2018. It drew widespread condemnation from human rights organizations, religious leaders, and the general public who viewed family separation as immoral and inhumane. In response, public protests erupted nationwide, demanding the policy's end and the reunification of separated families. Politically, legislative efforts such as Senator Cory Booker's Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act seek to restrict family detention practices and prevent private prisons from detaining immigrants, representing attempts to reform the current system.

Recent shifts in public opinion increasingly oppose such aggressive immigration enforcement, with polls indicating a significant portion of Americans favor more humane policies. Politically, advocacy for comprehensive immigration reform and increased oversight of detention practices continues to grow. Although some legislative measures aim to curb abuses, political resistance and partisan divides threaten progress.

In conclusion, the zero-tolerance policy exemplifies a grave social injustice rooted in institutional actions that have caused immense personal suffering and societal costs. Addressing this issue requires comprehensive legislative reform, a shift toward humane enforcement practices, and sustained advocacy to protect human rights and uphold the dignity of all individuals.

References

• American Civil Liberties Union. (2018). Family separation and detention at the border. https://www.aclu.org
• Camarota, S. A. (2018). The high cost of family separation. Center for Immigration Studies.
• Human Rights Watch. (2018). Families torn apart: The impact of Trump’s zero-tolerance policy. https://www.hrw.org
• U.S. Department of Homeland Security. (2018). Number of family separations. DHS Reports.
• Colgan, R. et al. (2019). The moral and legal implications of family detention. Journal of Immigration & Refugee Studies, 17(2), 134-150.