“Yeah, we’re doomed.” It’s a phrase my friends and I have said to each other half-jokingly, half-seriously. In light of current events, I keep wondering how true this sentiment is. And I keep asking myself: Is there any hope left in the world?
The idea of hope in American society has drastically become harder to grasp and understand — almost like learning a new language. This difficulty has only deepened with Donald Trump returning to the U.S. presidency and enacting a wave of executive orders that directly contradict past legislation.
It’s almost impossible to go a day without another bombshell article detailing senseless mandates and violations of civil liberties. To name a few: limiting free speech and press, doubling down on immigration enforcement practices and escalating radical protectionist economic policies. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
We are watching the pillars of democracy slowly crack under pressure, and it feels as if in spite of a two-party system, nothing is stopping the decline of our government.
But there’s still hope. Quietly and powerfully, the courts have said that not all levers of power bend in the same direction. State court judges have ruled against the administration’s aggressive and unlawful actions. These rulings remind us to not only hold hope but to stay engaged in protecting our rights and that justice is not just defended, but demanded, by the bench.
Some of these decisions have been publicized, but many have flown under the radar. While these decisions may seem inconsequential in the grand scheme of things, they’re proof the judiciary branch can still hold power to challenge authority. Especially in a time of political fatigue, the courts may just be our last line of defense against the claws of authoritarianism.
Recently, I found glimpses of hope in the story of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran man legally residing and working in Maryland. However, on March 15, 2025, he was indiscriminately deported to a supermax prison without due process or any decency due to Trump’s invocation of the 1798 Alien Enemies Act — an outdated act originally intended to deport any individuals from nations at war with the U.S.
In a rare turn of justice, Richmond-based 4th U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis ordered the U.S. government to return Garcia to the United States within three days. Judge Xinis stated that the deportation of Garcia was a clear violation of the rule of law. Beyond Xinis’ action, the Department of Justice attorney Erez Reuveni, arguing the government’s case against Garcia, concluded that he should not have been removed.
In response to what the Trump administration has labeled as insubordination, Reuveni and his supervisor have been placed on leave, and the deadline for Garcia’s immediate return has been paused by Supreme Court action. Unfortunately, their sacrifices are required to defend the constitutional values built to resist attempts at tyranny.
Despite the U.S. Supreme Court ruling 5-4 to lift all lower court injunctions blocking Trump’s invocation, the unified action of the lower courts proves just how indispensable the judicial system is to preserving justice. They added crucial caveats like prior notice and habeas corpus in possible deportation situations. Because of earlier state-level injunctions, the Supreme Court was forced to directly engage with the constitutionality of the executive order, and in doing so, it added necessary components safeguarding individual rights.
This isn’t an isolated incident. One of the most significant federal rulings came just a couple of months ago, where judges blocked Trump’s executive order ending birthright citizenship. Since 1868, the 14th Amendment guarantees any child born on U.S. soil full citizenship. Trump’s executive order misapplied clauses and had wrong interpretations of it, aiming to fundamentally terminate the right to citizenship.
In response, the courts took action. Several judges issued preliminary injunctions to stop the order’s enforcement. These judges all concluded that undermining the Constitution was not only unlawful but a violation of our rights.
These court decisions were all a tremendous victory for those who believe in democracy and equal rights under the law. They serve as a symbol of hope, and that despite the chaos of politics, the judicial branch still has our back.
These victories must not be taken for granted. Watching our decades of hard-won policies, progress and rights be stripped away has been upsetting. Nonetheless, these rulings against Trump’s orders came from the hands of those who value democracy and the Constitution. The battle was fought by immigrants, students and concerned citizens who had the courage to stand their ground. The rulings show us that democracy is simply bruised, not destroyed.
But what now?
It’s easy to feel defeated, slammed by disappointment or filled with anger — those feelings are real and valid. But they don’t define the end of our story.
Every time a judge checks power, every time the law is upheld in the face of injustice, every time a child’s future is protected because the courts protect their rights — that is hope. That is democracy fighting for breath.
But, the courts can only do so much. We must pay attention to the larger project ahead of protecting the liberties that make America worth fighting for.
Every decision — every violation or victory — is a call to action. To raise our voices. To organize. To vote. To support one another. To hold your representatives and senators accountable.
In the face of injustice, we must refuse to give up on a country that sometimes feels like it has already given up on you. Hope remains our greatest tool in these times of darkness, so don’t let go of it.
Daniel Choi PO ’28 is from Chino Hills, California, and is hopeful that he will pass his philosophy class.
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