I agree that ICE’s enforcement practices have been too harsh. What I’m still missing is something I consider morally obligatory for those actively protesting ICE in the streets of our cities—a concrete proposal for how we can enforce present immigration law in the context of “sancturary” states and cities.
Failing that it seems to me that Occam’s Razor suggests that they want open borders.
Open borders are unworkable and would be harmful to poor citizens and taxpayers alike.
They want open borders. They’re quit clear about that
Also, post-Floyd, a lot of the Minneapolis radical core is quite thoroughly convinced that street action is always successful. Obviously it will lead their righteous cause to fast and inevitable victory, so why bother with talking?
This whole mess may be a case of “fight them to a protracted draw first, so that talking becomes possible.” Dent their vaunted invulnerability, in order to sow doubt, in order to make space for negotiations.
I might be totally wrong! But at least my explanation accounts for the overly theatrical ICE tactics.
(Trump fights like a leftist, and boy do they ever hate him for it, because fighting against leftist tactics is deeply unsettling)
1) Pass clear laws and rules around immigration, asylum and refugees. Lawyers from both tribes claim the laws are perfectly clear but they both have different interpretations.
2) ICE agents should meet the standards of other police. They are getting 8 weeks training while national averages for police is about 21 weeks and the US is low by international standards. Have them take off the masks and wear ID like everyone else. Require accountability like with regular police.
3) Provide due process. The large majority of people they are taking have not committed crimes. They are taking them and then not allowing contact with family or letting them have legal representation. The latest count is that they have grabbed about 170 American citizens. (They actually seem, some, to be seeking confrontation. I dont really understand the need for 4 grown men to throw a 5 foot skinny woman on the ground and handcuff her because they ran their car into hers. She was absolutely no threat to them. Just arrest them like a normal cop would do. Put cuffs on them and put them in a car. I think much/most of this is due to lack of training plus knowing they are anonymous and will be unaccountable.)
4) If you arrest people in their homes at least let them get dressed before taking them. I cant believe they are that time pressed. If they have young kids maybe hold off on taking them unless you have a decent place to take them. Dont unnecessarily separate families.
5) Last, concentrate on actually finding illegals and not trying to create a spectacle and/or using it to try to make some political points. Along with this, Noel should not be allowed to do press conferences which really just end up being political rants anyway.
As an aside I do think a percentage of protestors want open borders but by my reading I think most just want people to be treated decently. I also dont think wanting your neighbor, employee or employer who has been here for 30 years and been a good contributing member of the community to not be deported or at least to be treated with decency and compassion does not necessarily equate to wanting open borders.
Steve
I’ll respond to a couple of your list.
1) The INA is quite clear and there were relatively few problems following and enforcing it until Biden issued his blanket invitation as a candidate. The real problem is enforcing the law in our cities especially when they pronounce themselves “sanctuaries”. That is prima facie nullification. Interpreting the law is up to SCOTUS.
2) No argument.
3) Most people don’t understand what “due process” in this case is. When a deportation order has been issued due process has been satisfied.
4) No argument.
5) No argument. In the age of smartphones and everyone having video cameras in their pockets there’s a fine line between ordinary law enforcement and spectacle. DHS is going for spectacle too frequently for my taste. A fish stinks from the head down.