The US has a long history of demonizing immigrants, dating back to 1790 when naturalization was limited to "free white persons". The idea that immigrants are an inherent security threat to Americans is rooted in this narrative. The formation of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in 2003 cemented this notion, with its name itself implying a connection between immigration and national security.
In reality, the US has a history of perpetuating racial violence against immigrant communities. The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, for instance, was one of the first federal laws to restrict immigration based on race. More recently, Ronald Reagan's 1986 amnesty program was coupled with a seven-fold increase in border enforcement, setting the stage for decades of border violence.
The Illegal Immigration Reform and Responsibility Act (IIRIRA) signed by Bill Clinton in 1996 further entrenched this system, making deportation easier and expanding the pool of people who could be deported. ICE was created to target 100% of people deemed "deportable", with no regard for due process or constitutional rights.
The agency's history is marked by racial profiling and racism. The supreme court recently authorized ICE to racially profile, but this is hardly new. Davino Watson's harrowing experience of being detained for over a year despite repeatedly telling officers he was a US citizen is just one example of the agency's disregard for civil liberties.
Abolishing ICE alone is not enough; it is time to move beyond a system predicated on violence and towards one that centers people's humanity. This means ensuring access to lawyers, expanding legal pathways, and divesting from the logic that violence makes us safer.
The killing of Renee Good by an ICE agent is just the latest example of this systemic violence. Her death, along with that of Keith Porter, Parady La, Luis Beltran Yanez-Cruz, Luis Gustavo Nunez Caceres, and Geraldo Lunas Campos, all in immigration custody or at the hands of law enforcement officers, proves that a system based on fear and intimidation will never be truly safe.
The real question is not whether ICE needs better training, but how we can dismantle an entire apparatus built on violence and racism. The US has a long history of demonizing immigrant communities; it's time to confront this narrative head-on and work towards a more humane future for all.
In reality, the US has a history of perpetuating racial violence against immigrant communities. The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, for instance, was one of the first federal laws to restrict immigration based on race. More recently, Ronald Reagan's 1986 amnesty program was coupled with a seven-fold increase in border enforcement, setting the stage for decades of border violence.
The Illegal Immigration Reform and Responsibility Act (IIRIRA) signed by Bill Clinton in 1996 further entrenched this system, making deportation easier and expanding the pool of people who could be deported. ICE was created to target 100% of people deemed "deportable", with no regard for due process or constitutional rights.
The agency's history is marked by racial profiling and racism. The supreme court recently authorized ICE to racially profile, but this is hardly new. Davino Watson's harrowing experience of being detained for over a year despite repeatedly telling officers he was a US citizen is just one example of the agency's disregard for civil liberties.
Abolishing ICE alone is not enough; it is time to move beyond a system predicated on violence and towards one that centers people's humanity. This means ensuring access to lawyers, expanding legal pathways, and divesting from the logic that violence makes us safer.
The killing of Renee Good by an ICE agent is just the latest example of this systemic violence. Her death, along with that of Keith Porter, Parady La, Luis Beltran Yanez-Cruz, Luis Gustavo Nunez Caceres, and Geraldo Lunas Campos, all in immigration custody or at the hands of law enforcement officers, proves that a system based on fear and intimidation will never be truly safe.
The real question is not whether ICE needs better training, but how we can dismantle an entire apparatus built on violence and racism. The US has a long history of demonizing immigrant communities; it's time to confront this narrative head-on and work towards a more humane future for all.
... we're so focused on the symptoms, not the disease itself. It's like treating a wound without addressing the root cause of the trauma that created it. We need to ask ourselves why are we perpetuating this system of fear and violence? Is it really about security or is it about control? We're creating a society where people are afraid to seek help, afraid to be themselves because they might get deported or worse 
.
.
. It's time for a new narrative, one that doesn't demonize immigrants, but elevates their voices and dignity.
ICE's track record is straight outta nightmare mode, how can we expect safety when the system is designed to perpetuate fear & violence?
it's not just about training agents or providing better lawyers for detainees, it's about recognizing that immigration policies are a product of systemic violence. Renee Good's death is just the latest example of this...and what's with the notion that we're safer because we're policing people like they're animals? 
. I mean, have you seen those documentaries on the migrant detention centers? It's like something out of a horror movie. The stories of people being held in these conditions for years, separated from their families... it's heartbreaking 
.
. Like, what even is that? Do they not understand that fear and intimidation can lead to all sorts of problems, not just for immigrants but for everyone? It's like, we need to focus on building a system that values people's humanity, you know? 
. It's like, we're still living with the consequences of those laws, you know? The Chinese Exclusion Act... Ronald Reagan's amnesty program... it all adds up to this system that's just so messed up 
.
. We need to rethink our entire approach to immigration and create a system that values people's rights, not just their nationality or status 
. It won't be easy, but I'm willing to fight for it 
.
, it's not just about training or better policies, it's about dismantling the systemic racism that goes into every aspect of their operations 
. We need to focus on providing a safe haven for immigrants, not locking them up and throwing away the key 
. It's time to move beyond the narrative of "us vs them" and start valuing humanity over fear 
.
.
. We need to invest in programs that provide access to lawyers, education, and job training - it's the only way to truly address the root causes of migration and create a more just society 
. We need systemic change, not just lip service or token reforms 
.
I'm not saying ICE can't make mistakes, but the fact that they're still profiling people based on their appearance? Yeah, that's not okay. And to all the politicians who are still whining about the "security threat" posed by immigrants... have you ever met a law-abiding immigrant with a criminal record? Didn't think so. We need to get our priorities straight and start treating everyone with dignity, regardless of their immigration status. 
we need to think about how we can dismantle that system and create something new that actually values humanity 
its not just about training or better procedures, its about fundamentally changing the way we treat immigrants in this country and acknowledging the harm that's been done to them for centuries 
. Did you know that between 2003 and 2020, the number of ICE detentions increased from 46k to over 433k? 
That's a crazy 900% increase! And what really gets me is that these people are often being detained without any evidence or due process. The stats on racial profiling by ICE are straight outta horror movies 
️. It's time for real change, not just some token reform 
.
And yeah, abolishing ICE is just a small step towards fixing this system... we need to talk about expanding access to lawyers, making pathways for legalization more accessible, and basically recognizing that people have human rights too 
. The thing is, ICE's whole existence is built on racism and fear... how can they expect us to trust them when it's all just based on profiles and stereotypes? 
. It's insane! And don't even get me started on the stats - 6 ppl dying in immigration custody or at the hands of law enforcement officers 
. We need to completely overhaul our system, not just tweak it with some new training program. I'm all for reform, but dismantling ICE is only half the battle... we gotta dismantle the whole narrative that says immigrants are inherently a security threat 
. The fact that the supreme court just authorized ICE to racially profile is a total game-changer 
, its time for a more compassionate approach 
. The loss of Renee Good is just the latest example of what happens when we put profits over people 
.
like how china got restricted back in 1882, its like us have this crazy pattern of doing this stuff to certain groups 
and its not just about "immigration" but whole vibe of fear & racism that comes with it 
we can do so much better than this, we need to focus on making people's lives better not just throwing them in cages 
, is it because they're desperate or do they really have no other options? 
is it really gonna make us safer? I don't think so