By John Q. Hosedrinker 
The Intercept revealed that ICE deceived eight men, who were convicted criminals, by telling them they were being transferred to another ICE facility in Louisiana, when in reality they were being deported to South Sudan. The men were held in a shipping container on a U.S. military base in Djibouti before being expelled to South Sudan, a country plagued by violence. Members of Congress condemned ICE’s actions, calling them cruel and a violation of international law, particularly given the lack of due process and the dangerous conditions in South Sudan. The Trump administration, however, defended the deportations, while South Sudan’s foreign ministry stated the agreement was part of broader cooperation. This incident highlights the U.S.’s practice of deporting immigrants to third countries with no ties to them and the secret deals being made to expand this practice.
Read the original article here
House Democrat Calls on Kristi Noem To Resign Over ICE Lies: This seems to be the crux of the matter, and it’s certainly generating a lot of discussion. It appears a House Democrat is demanding Kristi Noem’s resignation, stemming from alleged falsehoods related to the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The details, as they often do, are complex and involve a mix of policy, accusations, and, let’s be honest, a fair amount of political theater.
The core of the issue involves the direction of ICE resources. Specifically, there are reports suggesting that ICE is shifting its focus away from investigating serious crimes like drug trafficking, human trafficking, and child exploitation, in order to prioritize deportations. This shift, if true, raises serious ethical concerns. The accusation is that ICE is essentially abandoning critical investigations in pursuit of deportation quotas, which doesn’t sit well with many. Adding to the controversy is the claim that ICE is sending immigrants to dangerous countries, raising questions about due process and human rights.
The demand for Noem’s resignation is likely fueled by a combination of these factors. Some would see her as the person ultimately responsible for overseeing these alleged actions, thus making her culpable. There is also the matter of the administration’s priorities which many feel are misplaced or even harmful. To emphasize the point, there are reports alleging that Noem prioritized social media activities, like choosing her portrait, over responding to urgent requests during a crisis. Critics have also been pointing out how the department under her leadership seems to have been slow in responding to recent natural disasters, potentially causing harm to those affected.
Of course, politics is rarely that simple. It’s likely that the call for resignation is also part of a broader political strategy. The goal could be to damage Noem’s reputation, score points against the Trump administration, or simply to highlight the Democrat’s stance on immigration and related policy. It’s the classic game of political chess, where every move has multiple layers of meaning.
A key element in this is how Noem and her administration are actually responding to the crisis. There are reports detailing how Noem appears to have taken the time to post on her Instagram account while simultaneously delaying FEMA response. If her response is indeed inadequate, as it has been argued, it’s understandable that her critics would call for her to step down.
However, it is also important to note the reality of the current political landscape. Democrats calling for resignations is one thing, but getting Republicans to actually resign is quite another. In the current political climate, where party lines are deeply entrenched, there is a sense that Republicans tend to stick together. This could mean that unless there is significant pressure, Noem’s resignation is unlikely, even if there is public outcry. The power of political pressure and public opinion should not be overlooked. However, as has been noted, there are those who seem to be “above the law”.
Moreover, there is also the argument that the focus should be shifted to the former president and his administration rather than Noem. Some people might argue that Noem’s actions are just a reflection of the overall policies of the administration, and that the real problem lies higher up the chain of command. There is a sentiment that the focus should not only be on those who are in charge but also on how policies are being implemented.
Ultimately, the call for Noem’s resignation highlights the intense political battles being waged over immigration policy, the allocation of resources, and the response to various crises. While the specific details of the alleged lies, and the subsequent actions, are important, it’s clear that the situation has become a lightning rod for a much wider range of issues and concerns, and as a result, we’ll likely see this issue continue to play out, with more accusations, defenses, and political maneuvering to come.