ICE is now a rogue, racist, and dangerous agency that is carrying out Trump's lawless agenda against immigrants and citizens. It's time to stand up and loudly say, "Abolish ICE."
I was reluctant (okay, very reluctant) in 2018 to support the calls to abolish ICE, but in 2024 I am all the way there. WHY does there seem to be no oversight over ICE agents and their lawless behavior? WHY are they allowed to grab people off the streets when they are masked, have no name ID, have no warrant? WHY is no one in charge cleaning up their mess and coming out strongly for immediate reforms? WHY are the Democrats not having shadow hearings on these outrageous abuses of power ?
Having worked with the immigration regulations my entire career in international education (I was a DSO and PDSO in the F-1 program as well as an RO in the J-1 program, plus I did H-1Bs and LPRs on top of all the other stuff; no they did not pay me enough!), I was super suspicious of ICE when Bush 43 created it. There were already enough folks to make immigrants' lives difficult, without creating this extra agency. I figured CBP would be quite enough. Now, under 47, we see the logical extension of the "E" in ICE -- they are the enforcers, and they are not good people. Neither ICE nor HSI seems to be necessary for the appropriate adjudication of the immigration regulations. We don't need them. But ICE melts in the sun, so we need to be bringing sunlight to their operations, as you and Mehdi are doing, Waj. Thank you so much for doing that! Yes, it's time to Abolish ICE.
ICE agents that follow the chump's agenda aren't ICE AGENTS. There are hired mercenaries. That is why they have no IDs & no warrants. chump asking congress $5B to sign-on bonus' to hire his private army of the Mexican Cartel, the Afrikaner refugees, Qatar's Hamas, & his loyal MAGA insurrectionists. In essence, FU U.S. military & veterans.
This is somewhat tangetial to the discussion, but is extremely frightening. I just finished reading McKay Coppins' article in The Atlantic titled "The Visionary of Trump 2.0" It is unsettling to put it mildly but essential reading. It's a brief exposé of Russell Vought and his extremely radical plans to tear apart our constitutional republic and install an alternative, with a single executive who holds all the power. Cruelty and disregard for laws and the courts is central. Much of what has happened in the first 100+ days is part of Vought's plan. The worst is yet to come.
Wajahat, You have really great discussions with fantastic guests. Thanks and keep 'em coming.
Mehdi raised a good point: what happens when an ICE victim or a good Samaritan is carrying a gun and shoots the masked and unidentified agents? I think that's exactly what Trump wants to happen so that he can take more oppressive and violent action against people in this country. Trump really wants to give those orders, and this time he is surrounded by people who will zealously obey him.
Thank you both for inspiring us & encouraging us to fight this regime. Your commitment to us & this country is bringing results as we have seen today !
Abolish ICE. It’s on the list of things the people will require in our new government post Trump. Many other big changes will happen, at the will and direction of we the people.
OK, this is my (daily) email to governor Newsom; yes, lower case g. Feel free to paste, copy, and use it with him and/or your representative unless you are lucky enough to have a decent one, which is few and far between. I will step up my game and call his office every day. We don't need a script; tell them how disappointed you are, but if you find it difficult, just read my letter below or a portion of it out loud. It is up to us. Can't have Wajahat and Mehdi do all the work.
"Governor Newsom (upper case G just bc it is the beginning of the sentence),
I am a Californian, a woman, a professional, a wife, a mother, a friend, a neighbor, and an immigrant. I watched with utter disappointment as you interviewed and were interviewed by racist, white supremacists. You went so far as to suggest that Governor Van Hollen (God bless him!) search for Abrego Garcia was " a distraction". Are you kidding me? You should shape up, step up, and stop being a closeted republican. We are sick and tired of you; nobody will elect you again; we don't want you as a Governor, even less as a President. Your legacy is going to be your podcast with your xenophobic and white supremacist invitees. STOP, DO BETTER, MUCH MUCH BETTER. Go out there and help bring back our neighbors who have been disappeared and kidnapped. We pay you, you are reporting to us, or you should! Work to abolish ICE, now."
I'm all the way there. DOGE ICE now. Since Monte Mader pointed out on a post that some "agents" are wearing vests meant for adding weight during workouts, I'm looking at the attire of these masked "agents" more closely and sure enough... A weighted vest here and there. With patches from Amazon & Etsy. The clothing, and hairdos, especially of the few women "agents," are also silly. The cars with assorted out of state plates parked on the street... The posture... Even the spirit of conviction some arrest with. I think the less violent types know people are close to pulling masks off, and those "agents" are afraid.
In 2001 many Americans weren’t ok with the Patriot Act, or ICE. The government rammed all that through in a many thousand page long omnibus bill, with a few days to view it. Those who were expressing concern were told they were unpatriotic and ignoring security in a time of war.
I was reluctant (okay, very reluctant) in 2018 to support the calls to abolish ICE, but in 2024 I am all the way there. WHY does there seem to be no oversight over ICE agents and their lawless behavior? WHY are they allowed to grab people off the streets when they are masked, have no name ID, have no warrant? WHY is no one in charge cleaning up their mess and coming out strongly for immediate reforms? WHY are the Democrats not having shadow hearings on these outrageous abuses of power ?
Democratic politicians are catering to donors and terrified of shaping political discourse, fearing right-wing backlash and legacy media scorn...
They seem unable/unwilling comprehend that creating and sustaining bold messaging is the only viable strategy.
It would help if the rest of us were willing to hold continuous, sustained protests...but we're all still far too complacent.
Having worked with the immigration regulations my entire career in international education (I was a DSO and PDSO in the F-1 program as well as an RO in the J-1 program, plus I did H-1Bs and LPRs on top of all the other stuff; no they did not pay me enough!), I was super suspicious of ICE when Bush 43 created it. There were already enough folks to make immigrants' lives difficult, without creating this extra agency. I figured CBP would be quite enough. Now, under 47, we see the logical extension of the "E" in ICE -- they are the enforcers, and they are not good people. Neither ICE nor HSI seems to be necessary for the appropriate adjudication of the immigration regulations. We don't need them. But ICE melts in the sun, so we need to be bringing sunlight to their operations, as you and Mehdi are doing, Waj. Thank you so much for doing that! Yes, it's time to Abolish ICE.
ICE agents that follow the chump's agenda aren't ICE AGENTS. There are hired mercenaries. That is why they have no IDs & no warrants. chump asking congress $5B to sign-on bonus' to hire his private army of the Mexican Cartel, the Afrikaner refugees, Qatar's Hamas, & his loyal MAGA insurrectionists. In essence, FU U.S. military & veterans.
Right on the $. Abolish ICE the brown shirt agency. USA is now a fascist state! Keep up your great journalistic productions!
This is somewhat tangetial to the discussion, but is extremely frightening. I just finished reading McKay Coppins' article in The Atlantic titled "The Visionary of Trump 2.0" It is unsettling to put it mildly but essential reading. It's a brief exposé of Russell Vought and his extremely radical plans to tear apart our constitutional republic and install an alternative, with a single executive who holds all the power. Cruelty and disregard for laws and the courts is central. Much of what has happened in the first 100+ days is part of Vought's plan. The worst is yet to come.
Yes, his alma mater forced to take down their congratulations of him and his 'new' position. He and Stephen Miller are the 'drivers'.
Hegseth has tattoos all over his body, Proud Boyz, Osth Keepers are gangs, why aren’t they being deported ?
Embrace Diversity..........abolish ICE
Wajahat, You have really great discussions with fantastic guests. Thanks and keep 'em coming.
Mehdi raised a good point: what happens when an ICE victim or a good Samaritan is carrying a gun and shoots the masked and unidentified agents? I think that's exactly what Trump wants to happen so that he can take more oppressive and violent action against people in this country. Trump really wants to give those orders, and this time he is surrounded by people who will zealously obey him.
Abolish ICE.
Thank you both for inspiring us & encouraging us to fight this regime. Your commitment to us & this country is bringing results as we have seen today !
Abolish ICE. It’s on the list of things the people will require in our new government post Trump. Many other big changes will happen, at the will and direction of we the people.
Love the discussion. And YES, voters of all stripes want to see our representatives #StandUp
#SpeakOut #Fight the rising tide of fascism. #Tyranny
OK, this is my (daily) email to governor Newsom; yes, lower case g. Feel free to paste, copy, and use it with him and/or your representative unless you are lucky enough to have a decent one, which is few and far between. I will step up my game and call his office every day. We don't need a script; tell them how disappointed you are, but if you find it difficult, just read my letter below or a portion of it out loud. It is up to us. Can't have Wajahat and Mehdi do all the work.
"Governor Newsom (upper case G just bc it is the beginning of the sentence),
I am a Californian, a woman, a professional, a wife, a mother, a friend, a neighbor, and an immigrant. I watched with utter disappointment as you interviewed and were interviewed by racist, white supremacists. You went so far as to suggest that Governor Van Hollen (God bless him!) search for Abrego Garcia was " a distraction". Are you kidding me? You should shape up, step up, and stop being a closeted republican. We are sick and tired of you; nobody will elect you again; we don't want you as a Governor, even less as a President. Your legacy is going to be your podcast with your xenophobic and white supremacist invitees. STOP, DO BETTER, MUCH MUCH BETTER. Go out there and help bring back our neighbors who have been disappeared and kidnapped. We pay you, you are reporting to us, or you should! Work to abolish ICE, now."
Hear hear, Chiara. I am also a Californian and agree 💯. Shame on Newsom. He is a huge disappointment and has lost my support.
I'm all the way there. DOGE ICE now. Since Monte Mader pointed out on a post that some "agents" are wearing vests meant for adding weight during workouts, I'm looking at the attire of these masked "agents" more closely and sure enough... A weighted vest here and there. With patches from Amazon & Etsy. The clothing, and hairdos, especially of the few women "agents," are also silly. The cars with assorted out of state plates parked on the street... The posture... Even the spirit of conviction some arrest with. I think the less violent types know people are close to pulling masks off, and those "agents" are afraid.
When Democrats lie down and suck up to the right, they lose respect from everyone: Their own base, and swing voters, because the see the bullshit.
In 2001 many Americans weren’t ok with the Patriot Act, or ICE. The government rammed all that through in a many thousand page long omnibus bill, with a few days to view it. Those who were expressing concern were told they were unpatriotic and ignoring security in a time of war.
Thank you, Waj and Mehdi. Excellent and vitally important conversation.