The Rule of Law in Immigration
Why Fairness and Trust Must Be Protected
On November 8, 2025, I had the privilege of joining the inaugural Rule of Law Global Academic Partnership Conference virtually, where legal leaders, judges, and educators from around the world came together to discuss one simple but vital truth: the rule of law is the foundation of justice, and it must never be taken for granted.
For those of us working in immigration, this principle isn’t abstract. It is the air we breathe. It is the reason our clients can trust that decisions are made according to law, not opinion, by evidence, not emotion.
At April in the Rockies Immigration Solutions, we see ourselves not just as guides through the immigration process, but as advocates for the rule of law that keeps that process fair, transparent, and humane.
Protecting Fairness and Public Confidence
Chief Justice Michael Tulloch of Ontario reminded conference participants that “the **rule of law is not self-sustaining — it needs nourishment.” His words struck a chord.
In immigration, every file represents a life in motion, with families hoping to reunite, workers seeking opportunity, students building futures, and businesses investing in growth and innovation. When the system is slow, inconsistent, or unclear, people lose faith. Fairness erodes quietly, and confidence in our institutions falters.
Upholding the rule of law means ensuring predictability, transparency, and access to justice. These are conditions that allow every applicant, no matter where they come from, to trust that they will be treated equally before the law.
Balancing State Power and Individual Rights
Deputy Minister Shalene Curtis-Micallef spoke about her Department’s non-partisan role in advising the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, helping to ensure that federal policies, legislation, and decisions uphold the rule of law and remain grounded in fairness.
She reflected that the rule of law itself functions as the regulator between the state and individuals, maintaining legality, accountability, and respect for human rights. Her remarks emphasized that when the rule of law shifts or weakens, we feel its absence immediately, much like air thinning at high altitude.
As professionals, we help ensure that government authority is exercised lawfully, not arbitrarily, and that clients’ rights are respected even within a complex policy framework. Curtis-Micallef reminded us that legality, accountability, and equality before the law are what keep democracy breathing.
She used a powerful image: “When you have the rule of law, you can’t always detect its presence — but when it shifts, you feel it, like thin air at high altitude.” Immigration professionals often sense those shifts first, when uncertainty, misinformation, or procedural unfairness make it harder for clients to breathe easily in a system that should protect them.
Global Lessons: Equality and Access
Speakers from law schools in Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, and Canada emphasized that access to justice is the measure of a society’s health. Dean Andreas Paulus described the “rule of equals”, meaning that law must apply to all people the same way.
That ideal resonates strongly in immigration. Every applicant, regardless of nationality, language, or circumstance, deserves to be treated with equal respect and impartiality. Access to justice also means ensuring that cost, complexity, or delay do not become barriers to fairness.
At April in the Rockies Immigration Solutions, we take that seriously by helping clients understand the process, ensuring applications are complete and accurate, and advocating when something seems unjust. That’s how we help make equality before the law real, not theoretical.
Educating and Empowering the Public
Both Chief Justice Tulloch and Deputy Minister Curtis-Micallef emphasized the same theme:
We must communicate the rule of law to the public, clearly, consistently, and with purpose.
For newcomers and those currently within Canada, this is especially important. Understanding how the legal system works helps people integrate, participate, and feel confident in their new communities.
Here’s what the rule of law means in everyday immigration terms:
Fairness: Your case is decided based on the law and evidence, not bias or politics.
Transparency: You have the right to understand why a decision was made.
Accountability: You can ask for a review or appeal if something seems wrong.
When people understand these principles, they don’t just trust the process—they strengthen it.
Our Role: Advocates for Fairness
The conference made one message clear: the rule of law doesn’t defend itself. It depends on those who apply it, teach it, and stand up for it.
As immigration professionals, we hold a small but crucial line in ensuring that every client’s story is heard within a fair, lawful system. We are both service providers and civic educators.
At April in the Rockies Immigration Solutions, we are proud to uphold that responsibility every day by helping people find clarity, confidence, and fairness with their life in Canada.
The rule of law isn’t just what governs us—it’s what protects us. And when we protect it, we protect each other.