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[Muffin1611]

In March, two months after President Trump took office, I received a text message from a veteran agent at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
I had been trying to find field agents willing to describe what life was like at the agency in the Trump era. This agent agreed to talk.

”We're going to get sued," the agent told me at one point. ”You have guys who are doing whatever they want in the field, going after whoever they want."
At first, the agent spoke to me on the condition that I not publish anything about our conversations. But that has changed.
Increasingly angry about the direction in which ICE is moving, the agent agreed last week to let me publish some of the details of our talks, as long as I didn't include identifying information.

With Obama gone, and the era of micromanagement over, the agent sees long-standing standards being discarded and basic protocols questioned.
”I have officers who are more likely now to push back," the agent said. ”I'd never have someone say, ‘Why do I have to call an interpreter? Why don't they speak English?'
Now I get it frequently. I get this from people who are younger. That's one group.
And I also get it from people who are ethnocentric: ‘Our way is the right way—I shouldn't have to speak in your language. This is America.' "
It all adds up, the agent said, ”to contempt that I've never seen so rampant towards the aliens."

The agent was especially concerned about a new policy that allows ICE to investigate cases of immigrants who may have paid smugglers to bring their children or relatives into the country.
ICE considers these family members guilty of placing children ”directly in harm's way," as one spokeswoman recently put it, and the agency will hold them ”accountable for their role in these conspiracies."
According to ICE, these measures will help combat ”a constant humanitarian threat," but the agent said that rationale was just a pretext to increase arrests and eventually deport more people.
”We seem to be targeting the most vulnerable people, not the worst." The agent also believes that the policy will make it harder for the government to handle unaccompanied children who show up at the border.
”You're going to have kids stuck in detention because parents are too scared of being prosecuted to want to pick them up!" the agent said.

More at the link.

 

[liquidtmd]

I shouldn’t have to speak in your language. This is America.’

 

[Captin Quacker]

“I have officers who are more likely now to push back,” the agent said. “I’d never have someone say, ‘Why do I have to call an interpreter? Why don’t they speak English?’

Jfc that's nuts

 

[EMT0]

ICE needs to be purged, jesus

 

[Breads]

It is an enforcment agency built around the idea of investigating "aliens" and deporting "illegals". The ethbocentric component was always there. Trump era just let it blossom.

Yall have always been racist shits to us. Treating me as a foreigner when I've been here longer than you've been alive...

 

[Ogodei]

ICE needs to be purged, jesus

ICE, CBP, TSA (was reading an article recently where the Government Accountability Office was savaging the TSA for non-scientific methods, calling out their security theater as useless wastes of time and money. Only a fraction of their practices actually help stop terror).

Hence the fringe benefits of the Trump Administration. In the brief period before he started tanking what little credibility he had, a lot of jackboot-wannabes came out of the woodwork (especially in the weekend of the Muslim ban), outing themselves for when the government corrects itself later.

 

[Aaron]

ICE needs to be purged, jesus

No. They just need to be held to certain standards like all government authorities, but when the president isn't held accountable for shit, don't hold your breath for it.

 

[GrizzleBoy]

Illegal immigrants aren't criminals.

 

[HStallion]

When does ICE just change their logo to a giant skull?

 

[TheOMan]

No. They just need to be held to certain standards like all government authorities, but when the president isn't held accountable for shit, don't hold your breath for it.

Nah, he's right. ICE needs to be purged of the racists and ethnocentrism.

 

[Oriel]

“I have officers who are more likely now to push back,” the agent said. “I’d never have someone say, ‘Why do I have to call an interpreter? Why don’t they speak English?’

Oh great, now ICE is recruiting straight from Reddit.

 

[HStallion]

Oh great, now ICE is recruiting straight from Reddit.

Reddit? I know everyday people who say this. Its a pretty common view, still quite shitty though.

 

[GameAddict411]

It doesn't help that the most hateful people of immigrants apply to work at the ICE. The reality of the situation is the 99.8% of people who cross the borders illegally are just people in desperate need for a better life. Some have fears of going back due to gang violence. Unfortunately, the US government doesn't recognize that as grounds for asylum.

 

[Alucrid]

Like many ice employees, the agent was a critic of President Barack Obama, whose push to standardize enforcement practice and micromanage agents, particularly during his second term, was a source of frustration at the agency. Yet with Obama gone, and the era of micromanagement over, the agent sees long-standing standards being discarded and basic protocols questioned.

didn't like the agency on a leash, wonder if they'll like the agency being put down after trump

 

[QuicheFontaine]

Illegal immigrants aren't criminals.

Eh? Illegal and criminal are basically synonymous. If you're breaking the law you're a criminal.

 

[Pop-O-Matic]

When does ICE just change their logo to a giant skull?

The police already took the skull logo.

The ICE is gonna have to setter for something else evil like a devil or a swastika or some shit.

 

[NandoGip]

I have many family members who are undocumented, anyone can tell you how fucked ICE is. Undocumented immigrants are treated like rapist or murderers.

Like, yeah okay theyre here technically illegally, but the only difference between them and us is the fact that they don't have a social security number.

Most of them still pay taxes due to the hope that it will help them in a possible court scenario. On top of that their sole motivation is to work and provide for their family.

ICE officers are brainwashed into thinking undocumented immigrants are all scum, and they treat the immigrants like they're dirt.

 

[g11]

Illegal immigrants aren't criminals.

I mean, technically according to the letter of the law, they are, but probably 90%+ are only guilty of violating immigration law. ICE should focus on the actual violent criminal illegals (mostly gangs/organized crime AFAIK) instead of harassing the ones just looking for work.

 

[Caja 117]

Eh? Illegal and criminal are basically synonymous. If you're breaking the law you're a criminal.

What he is saying is that most of them are not rapist, murderers and drug dealers, while some of them might be good people

 

[HStallion]

To show you just how fucked up ICE and its priorities are just remember that there are churches across the country sheltering families of undocumented immigrants. They're a rotten organization full of scummy assholes.

 

[Shoeless]

America is turning into a place where people with criminal tendencies join some kind of law enforcement organization so they can exercise their criminal tendencies without criminal punishment. It's like A Clockwork Orange without British accents.

 

[hipbabboom]

Eh? Illegal and criminal are basically synonymous. If you're breaking the law you're a criminal.

You know, speeding doesn't make you a criminal. I have to imagine that our legal system has the potential leaves a lot of room for a gradient of classifications before the severely loaded classification of criminal is applied. Once you're labeled as a criminal here, you are treated something less human.

 

[Fercho]

I remember that in another thread some time ago, i said that ICE was becoming in Trump's own Gestapo and some people got mad.

Well, there it is.

 

[QuicheFontaine]

What he is saying is that most of them are not rapist, murderers and drug dealers, while some of them might be good people

That should be determined before or as they enter the country imo. I don't think that's such an unreasonable position to take.

 

[enzo_gt]

The police already took the skull logo.

The ICE is gonna have to setter for something else evil like a devil or a swastika or some shit.

 

[Caja 117]

That should be determined before or as they enter the country imo. I don't think that's such an unreasonable position to take.

If they are crossing the border I dont think you can tell that, those that comes with a visa are vetted so they have clean record, not saying a group of real criminals might pass, but thats not the norm.

 

[Oriel]

That should be determined before or as they enter the country imo. I don't think that's such an unreasonable position to take.

I think we can all agree that there should be a legal route in which to enter the US and all should endeavour to travel legally. That still doesn't mean those living in the country illegally should be deported at a moments notice, tearing families apart.

 

[Gero]

Just letting you guys know it took my parents 21 years just to get legal residence here in the United States.

 

[Acorn]

Just letting you guys know it took my parents 21 years just to get legal residence here in the United States.

Took 21 years to switch from British to American citizenship for my uncle.

 

[Acorn]

Is that cash me outside girl?

 

[Gutek]

Illegal immigrants aren't criminals.

If something is illegal, isn't it criminal by definition?

 

[Tal Shiar Agent]

ICE is one step away from becoming Trump's Gestapo.

 

[GrizzleBoy]

If something is illegal, isn't it criminal by definition?

Does illegally entering a country go on your immigration history or your criminal record?

Does a mnor driving violation add points to your license or go on your criminal record?

That should be the answer.

Eh? Illegal and criminal are basically synonymous. If you're breaking the law you're a criminal.

I believe you're British?

In England, detained immigrants (usually those who have disobeyed orders to leave) are able to work within the detention centres, are given phones, don't wear prison uniforms, etc. The staff are reminded not to treat them like criminals, because that lady who left her home country and didn't want to return to am abusive relationship isn't a criminal. They've not been convicted of any crimes.

They didn't something wrong regarding immigration laws, but that doesn't make you a criminal.

 

[Khaz]

And I also get it from people who are ethnocentric

That's another way to spell racist

 

[ChubbyHuggs]

I got the perfect candidate.

 

[nomis]

If something is illegal, isn't it criminal by definition?

Eh? Illegal and criminal are basically synonymous. If you're breaking the law you're a criminal.

Consider calling them Undocumented then

 

[L Thammy]

That should be determined before or as they enter the country imo. I don't think that's such an unreasonable position to take.

If it ends up taking years to enter the country legally, or if they are prevented from doing so for some reason totally unrelated to criminality, you can understand why illegals felt they had to avoid the process.

 

[SoRuffShoNuff]

America is turning into a place where people with criminal tendencies join some kind of law enforcement organization so they can exercise their criminal tendencies without criminal punishment. It's like A Clockwork Orange without British accents.

Turning into? My friend you have been blind for far too long.

 

[Trojita]

The reason they aren't illegal and instead undocumented is because if it was illegal they would be given due process. It's something either side of the issue don't want to touch.

 

[sangreal]

Eh? Illegal and criminal are basically synonymous. If you're breaking the law you're a criminal.

no they aren't, there are civil and criminal offenses. being present in the country without valid papers is not criminal

illegal entry is a crime. you do not need to enter illegally to be an "illegal alien"

 

[TheLaughingStock]

The reason they aren't illegal and instead undocumented is because if it was illegal they would be given due process. It's something either side of the issue don't want to touch.

Salmon, and most others who abjure ”illegal" immigrant, prefer to use the adjective ”undocumented," which I also used several times in my article. The term is clearly accurate, but also incomplete. The problem of the family in my piece is not simply that it lacks a document, like an American who, say, is kept from voting because he or she lacks a driver's license or other photo I.D. The problem is that the law currently forbids the family from living in the United States. The family is not authorized to be here, which is different, I think, from simply needing a piece of paper.

http://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/should-i-use-the-term-illegal-immigrant

 

[Vyse The Legend]

Is that cash me outside girl?

JWOW from Jersey Shore.

 

[Muffin1611]

http://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/should-i-use-the-term-illegal-immigrant

I think we can all agree that "illegal" immigrant is technically correct, but as outlined in your link, is becoming such a toxic word that undocumented etc. might be better. Also that "criminal" definitely isn't apt.

 

[Chmpocalypse]

That should be determined before or as they enter the country imo. I don't think that's such an unreasonable position to take.

You also voted leave. Our views of "reasonable" are likely quite divergent.

 

[Nydius]

The ICE is gonna have to setter for something else evil like a devil or a swastika or some shit.

They should just steal - err, borrow - the United States Police Force logo from the Escape From New York/Los Angeles franchise. The Escape from L.A. one would probably be most ideal, given the obvious design similarities to another particular despotic Eagle insignia...

 

[Breads]

Eh? Illegal and criminal are basically synonymous. If you're breaking the law you're a criminal.

Fuck this stupid attitude. Someone here illegally isn't the same thing as a mugger or drug pusher or kidnapper and you damn well know it. This toxic and shitty view causes a lot of undue harm to immigrants here both legally and illegally as well as people simply born here.

The concept of dehumanizing law abiding "illegals" has got to go. You don't serve any community when perpetuating it.

 

[geestack]

Eh? Illegal and criminal are basically synonymous. If you're breaking the law you're a criminal.

and what about the DREAM kids? just fuck them right, they came over 'illegally' even though they had no say in the matter. jesus.

 

[theCalamity]

Eh? Illegal and criminal are basically synonymous. If you're breaking the law you're a criminal.

If we're going to do that then the vast majority of the country are criminals because they speed

 

[rjinaz]

If we're going to do that then the vast majority of the country are criminals because they speed

Guess I'm an illegal now. Fuck.

Gulp. I'm just kidding ICE heh heh...

 

[bionic77]

Like all articles from the last 6 months you could summarize it as 'Jesus Christ America is doing a lot of evil and racist shit'.

That pretty much sums up Trumps America. Let's hope it is short lived.