The executive office’s agenda was never about grocery prices
BY THE EDITORIAL BOARD
The idealized concept of the “American Dream” is a fairly simple one — no matter where you came from, no matter when you left, people can call this place home and strive for a better life. This ideal has been forgotten as the Trump Administration embarks on what they plan to be the “largest deportation order” in American history.
As of Feb. 4, new White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the first round of flights bringing undocumented immigrants to Guantánamo Bay. Trump announced his plans to jail 30,000 migrants from the United States to a facility overseas following the passage of the Laken Riley Act, legislation that requires the detention of undocumented migrants charged with specific crimes. With major Republican support and 46 Democrat representatives voting for the bill, the Trump Administration has begun its operation.
“Today’s signings bring us one step closer to eradicating the scourge of migrant crime in our communities once and for all,” Trump said, announcing the passage of the bill.
The Department of Homeland Security has declined to answer if women, children and families will be detained at Guantánamo, according to Reuters.
The Editorial Board condemns the inhumanity of the Trump Administration and these mass deportation efforts.
The available research shows time and time again that undocumented migrants are far less likely to commit crimes than U.S. citizens. Trump’s goal has never been to reduce crime or make this country safer — his goal is to deport an entire population and culture of people.
These deportation efforts are rooted in bigotry and racism toward Latinos, and this can be clearly seen through the racial profiling of citizens by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). During a raid in New Jersey, a former U.S. veteran was detained by ICE agents; They even refused to believe he was a citizen when shown his military documentation. In this same raid, ICE detained the workplace’s manager who was Puerto Rican (aka someone who is from the U.S.).
Even in places like Phoenix, Arizona, ICE has questioned and targeted Navajo Nation citizens — people who are indigenous to this land are being questioned and suspected of not being from the U.S..
In response to these raids, ICE has stated they might “encounter U.S. citizens while conducting fieldwork and may request identification to establish an individual’s identity,” according to NBC News.
Our country’s treatment toward migrants has always been cruel; In 2019, the United Nations rights chief condemned the detaining of children in cages, even suggesting that it violated international law.
However, it’s still worth being aware of the dangerous precedent set by this new administration. On average, ICE has arrested 1,000 to 2,000 people suspected of being undocumented per day, far exceeding last year’s average. ICE has claimed in an email to their staff that the Trump Administration has enforced a daily quota of 1,200 arrests — however, a White House official has denied these reports.
There has been large-scale pushback to these policies, with thousands of protesters gathering in Los Angeles and hundreds in Riverside and San Diego. During the LA rally, protesters even shut down the 101 Freeway, according to The Los Angeles Times. Those gathered held signs that read slogans such as “Don’t bite the hand that feeds you” and “MAGA — Mexicans always get across,” according to reporting by The LA Times.
As the nation is delving into unprecedented times, it is important to be aware of your rights. All of these rights and more can be found on the National Immigrant Justice Center and American Civil Liberties Union websites.
- If you are pulled over during a traffic stop, you may ask the officer if they are from the Department of Immigration; It is likely they will introduce themselves to you as police — they are not.
- Do not let ICE agents into your home without a warrant signed by a judge. If the warrant they show you is not signed by a judge, they have no authority to enter your home. Examples of the differences between ICE warrants and valid judicial warrants can be seen on the National Immigrant Justice Center website.
- You have the right to remain silent and not reveal your immigration status to officers at any time.
With news developing day by day, it can become overwhelming to not know where things will go next. The Editorial Board encourages you to look out for your community, speak out against these blatant injustices and not to become complicit with an executive branch that is violating basic human rights. When we look back on the political period we find ourselves in, be sure to do whatever you can to ensure you were on the right side of history.
Written by: The Editorial Board
