i like that i went from reading Kenny, Ryan, Jeremy, Murtaza, Dan, et al in the Intercept to reading them across 3 different publications. Now if only we could drop substack and go back to good old html blogs and RSS.
This post seems to challenge ICE’s efficiency, which makes some sense from a rhetorical standpoint given the emphasis of so many conservatives on efficiency. I can’t help, however, but wonder if we have so abandoned our humanity that appeals to human rights, or law, or the consequences for communities seem to so consistently escape attention?
Ken includes a parallel critique of credibility, but the tendency to obscure should not surprise us given how consistently this administration has lied outright about immigration. I discussed that theme when Trump deployed ICE goon squads to LA and DC. https://open.substack.com/pub/shahidbuttar/p/promises-made-promises-betrayed
"And why would anyone, except those driven by desperation or ideology, want to work for the least popular law enforcement agency in the first place?"
Dan, as you likely know, young men have a thing for power and weapons, particularly in the US where they have little of the first and lots of the second available. The pay for ICE work is fabulous compared to working at Wendy's and you get to carry firearms while dressing up in a menacing way complete with sunglasses and a mask. This puts the most threatening looking Jeep Wrangler deeply in the shade.
On top of this, look at the huge turnout in Glendale AZ of Kirk fans who have little affection for immigrants and non-whites in general while professing epic love of country. As I always remind people, we are a nation of children in adult bodies. ICE has appeal.
ICE has an outrageous budget and they need to dole that out, this is the grift which is main task of leadership. If an organization was in need of an audit, ICE is at top of list. Also need precise numbers of people abducted, deported and detained. CE is a giant grift.
Maybe if they didn’t wear masks and act like thugs kidnapping people off the streets they might get a bit of respect. Everyone deserves due process.
Klippenlaw or Bogustein?
i like that i went from reading Kenny, Ryan, Jeremy, Murtaza, Dan, et al in the Intercept to reading them across 3 different publications. Now if only we could drop substack and go back to good old html blogs and RSS.
This post seems to challenge ICE’s efficiency, which makes some sense from a rhetorical standpoint given the emphasis of so many conservatives on efficiency. I can’t help, however, but wonder if we have so abandoned our humanity that appeals to human rights, or law, or the consequences for communities seem to so consistently escape attention?
History offers us a disappointing answer, which might also explain at least some current events. https://shahidbuttar.substack.com/p/its-not-about-kirk-or-kimmel-or-colbert
Ken includes a parallel critique of credibility, but the tendency to obscure should not surprise us given how consistently this administration has lied outright about immigration. I discussed that theme when Trump deployed ICE goon squads to LA and DC. https://open.substack.com/pub/shahidbuttar/p/promises-made-promises-betrayed
Finally, it’s interesting to observe the bravado of the ICE recruitment ads that Ken shared here. To what extent are they intended to appeal to men with fragile egos, like the president? https://open.substack.com/pub/shahidbuttar/p/the-rise-of-the-fragile-tough-guy?r=97w99&utm_medium=ios
Those tacky ICE recruitment "posters" look like something from the old Soviet Union!
"And why would anyone, except those driven by desperation or ideology, want to work for the least popular law enforcement agency in the first place?"
Dan, as you likely know, young men have a thing for power and weapons, particularly in the US where they have little of the first and lots of the second available. The pay for ICE work is fabulous compared to working at Wendy's and you get to carry firearms while dressing up in a menacing way complete with sunglasses and a mask. This puts the most threatening looking Jeep Wrangler deeply in the shade.
On top of this, look at the huge turnout in Glendale AZ of Kirk fans who have little affection for immigrants and non-whites in general while professing epic love of country. As I always remind people, we are a nation of children in adult bodies. ICE has appeal.
That’s what is scarier and scarier. Can’t imagine what’s coming next.
ICE is on track for an Abu Ghraib style catastrophe.
I definitely fear this.
What’s the deal with Tom Homan and a bag of 50k in cash? Seems to me he has a bucket of gold (aka ICE budget) to misappropriate for him and his pals.
ICE has an outrageous budget and they need to dole that out, this is the grift which is main task of leadership. If an organization was in need of an audit, ICE is at top of list. Also need precise numbers of people abducted, deported and detained. CE is a giant grift.
Thanks for this reporting.