The Human Cost of Law and Policy

When I was 15 years old, I had my first real encounter with how governance — or its missteps — can disrupt lives. My family had moved from Canada to the United States, where we had relocated for my father’s university position in New York State. My father and I were Canadian citizens, but my mother had retained her Chinese citizenship, so that she could travel quickly if my grandfather’s health deteriorated.

One day, at the border, an issue arose. US officials informed us that they had issued my mother the wrong visa to enter their country. The mistake meant she would not be able to cross the border and return home with us — and it was up to us to find a solution. The uncertainty was palpable. Would our family be split up? Would my father’s career plans be derailed? What would happen next?

That experience left an impression on me. It revealed something fundamental: systems, even well-intentioned ones, are fallible. The immigration framework that was supposed to facilitate legal movement created an unfair obstacle. A routine administrative process became a point of failure, illustrating how procedural errors, inflexible regulations, and structural shortcomings can cause upheaval for families. Despite having followed proper procedures, my mother was denied entry due to an error made by authorities.

Lawyers as Architects of Governance

Lawyers are often seen as interpreters of the law, but we are also its architects. We don’t just apply legal frameworks — we shape them. Immigration law, more than many other areas, sits at the intersection of governance, policy and human impact. An error in a visa classification is not only a legal technicality — it can determine whether a family stays together or is forced apart.

Fortunately for us, after navigating a tangle of administrative processes, my mother was issued the correct visa, and we continued our lives in New York. But that experience was more than an inconvenient delay. It was an early lesson on how much hinges on legal processes, decisions made by those in power, and the structures that govern them. My experience highlighted how a single error can have profound consequences, and how powerless individuals can feel in the face of an unyielding system.

Good governance in immigration law means more than ensuring compliance. It requires strategic oversight, accountability and adaptability. It means questioning whether existing policies serve their intended purpose, and when they don’t, advocating for reform. Whether it’s addressing inefficiencies in processing times, scrutinizing the role of automated decision-making or promoting transparency in legislative changes, governance is about making systems work for the people they are meant to serve.

The Intersection of Immigration and Good Governance

The Canada-US border has long been a symbol of cooperation but shifting policies and economic tensions have introduced new complexities. Tariffs, restrictions and evolving immigration requirements create an environment where individuals and businesses are left navigating uncertainty. These are not just law and policy issues. They are governance challenges that require lawyers to engage beyond the courtroom.

From supporting fair implementation of legislative changes to questioning the increasing reliance on algorithmic decision-making, governance is about anticipating consequences and making certain the law functions as intended. The role of lawyers in this space is not simply to guide clients through red tape, but to challenge inefficiencies and advocate for fair and transparent systems.

Shaping the Future of Governance

My experience at the border years ago was a brief moment of discomfort, but it was a reminder that behind every policy or regulation are real people whose lives can be upended – not just by errors, but also by flawed legislation, ineffective policies and decisions driven by harmful intent. Some systems fail because of mistakes, but others fail by design, disproportionately harming vulnerable communities.

Lawyers must address errors and confront the systemic flaws that perpetuate harm. As legal professionals, our responsibility extends beyond working within the system. We must advocate for a legal framework that is just, effective and accountable. In an era of global uncertainty, governance matters more than ever. Lawyers must not only respond to changes in immigration, citizenship and refugee law, but also take an active role in shaping policies that reflect legal integrity and human dignity. Because at its core, governance isn’t about paperwork and procedures — it’s about people.