By John Q. Hosedrinker 
With $75 billion in new funding, ICE will expand its operations to round up and deport millions of people over the next few years. This influx of money will lead to increased enforcement, potentially targeting long-term residents and those with minor infractions, similar to the arrest quotas seen in police states. Detention centers are planned to hold approximately 120,000 people daily, indicating a vast expansion of the existing system. The new policies will lead to the deportation of migrants working in fields not protected by the current administration. Despite the potential for pushback, the funding for ICE seems secure, with little expectation of cuts.
Read the original article here
America Is Now a Police State?
It’s a chilling thought, isn’t it? The idea that America, the land of the free, has somehow transformed into a police state. But the more you look at the facts, the more unsettling it becomes. “Is now?” some might ask, as if this is a sudden development. For many, especially those who’ve experienced its effects firsthand, the reality is that it’s always been this way. It’s just that the veil, if there ever was one, is finally starting to lift for a wider audience.
A police state. That means a country run by those who are supposed to uphold the law, but who are actually above it. It means constant surveillance, the erosion of basic freedoms, and the militarization of law enforcement. Think about the Iraq War tactics being employed on American streets. Think about the sheer scale of incarceration, far exceeding what’s seen in other developed nations. Think about the impact of policies like the Patriot Act, and how they’ve expanded government power at the expense of individual rights.
The very definition of an “insurgent” is someone who resists, and how do you know if someone resists? The answer is resistance. It’s been this way for a long time. But the point is, has it always been the way for everyone? For a lot of Americans, especially those who aren’t privileged, this is their daily reality. Consider the impact of agencies like ICE and the potential consequences of the budgets.
For those who aren’t white, or aren’t cis, or aren’t heterosexual, the fight for basic rights has been an uphill battle. They’ve been denied a fair share of justice. The struggles for equality and dignity have been met with resistance and compromise. This isn’t new. It’s woven into the fabric of the country.
When you look at the willingness to preserve right-wing authoritarianism over the well-being of the populace, it really makes you wonder. The “America First” attitude, the tribalism – it’s allowed a lot of questionable policies to slip through, under the guise of patriotism or security. Now, the veneer is cracking and it is obvious. Even worse is that many don’t seem to care.
The sheer number of people imprisoned, and the ever-increasing potential for people to be deported, should make us uneasy. Imagine being sent to a country you’ve never known, with no recourse. And if it turns out, as is the case for many, that they are the enemy?
The phrase “police state” is more than just a catchy slogan. It’s a description of a reality, where civil liberties are trampled, where dissent is silenced, and where the government wields unchecked power. It raises the question – at what point does it become acceptable for a government to start detaining people?
It is a place where, for so many, the phrase, “always has been,” rings true. Where the experience of oppression and injustice is not a new phenomenon, but a persistent reality. It’s the reality for many black people, for many indigenous people, and for anyone who doesn’t fit a narrow definition of what it means to be “American”.
The chilling truth is, this didn’t just happen overnight. It’s a slow creep, a gradual erosion of rights and freedoms. What happens when the protectors become the criminals?
There are many things that are great in the United States, but it’s essential to look at the things that aren’t. As someone once said, “We were free until we realized we weren’t anymore, but then it was too late.” Remember that there is an entire class of people whose lives have been defined by this reality.