By John Q. Hosedrinker 
The Trump administration is soliciting contractors to revamp the U.S. immigrant detention system. This plan involves renovating industrial warehouses to accommodate over 80,000 detainees. The draft solicitation suggests a significant expansion of detention capacity. Further details regarding the specific locations and scope of the renovations are anticipated.
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ICE documents reveal plan to hold 80,000 immigrants in warehouses, a chilling prospect that evokes a range of immediate reactions. The very idea of treating human beings like commodities, to be stored and moved with the efficiency of an Amazon package, is deeply unsettling. The phrase itself, “Like Prime, but with human beings,” from ICE Acting Director Todd M. Lyons, underscores a disturbing shift in perspective where the value of a human life is secondary to operational efficiency. This is a terrifying vision of how a government entity views its responsibilities, the logical endpoint of dehumanization.
The efficiency model, the emphasis on rapid “deportation” as the primary goal, raises serious questions about the long-term intent and the possible expansion of this system. If deportation is the goal, why the need for massive warehousing of people? One might reasonably ask, what will these warehouses be used for once the initial “efficiency” is achieved? There’s a concern that the logic of efficiency, applied to human beings, will inevitably lead down a dark path. The specter of historical atrocities, the systematic dehumanization that preceded them, immediately springs to mind.
The parallel to the “Final Solution” is difficult to ignore. The Wannsee Conference and the meticulous planning that preceded the Holocaust are relevant because of the way the system of exploitation, the categorization of people, and the implementation of inhumane treatment, it is almost identical to some events of the past. The notion of warehousing people, treating them as interchangeable units to be processed and disposed of, is profoundly disturbing. This suggests a premeditated move, a planned expansion of ICE’s capacity that raises alarms about the future.
The discussion about the current political climate leads to a palpable sense of loss and disillusionment. The contrast between a time when the focus was on community, love, and a shared Christmas spirit, versus the current state of affairs is stark. The very idea that such a shift could happen in a relatively short period of time is frightening, the descent into warehousing and efficient deportations feels almost inevitable. The prospect of such a future is truly disheartening.
Beyond the humanitarian concerns, the economic aspects of this plan raise questions about who benefits. The contractor bids are high and timelines are uncertain, suggesting a system driven by profit rather than public service. The focus is on profit, and the fact that public money is being used to facilitate a system that leads to work camps and concentration camps is appalling. The moral implications are far reaching.
It is easy to imagine the evolution of these “warehouses” from holding facilities to something far more sinister. The chilling reality of this plan is that it could become a full blown system of exploitation. The parallels to historical atrocities are too close to be ignored, and the need for vigilance and resistance is evident. The idea of ICE moving humans like Amazon Prime boxes is a grotesque inversion of values, and a future where a government agency is run this way, should be a source of deep concern for everyone.
The actions of the ICE Acting Director are a clear signal of the direction we are headed. This is something that should be spoken about. The scale of the proposed warehousing is vast, creating the potential for a system that is ripe for abuse and the suppression of human rights. The dehumanization is not a new tactic, and it has been used to justify unspeakable acts in the past. To avoid repeating these mistakes we must call things for what they are.
The focus of this system is to exploit a vulnerable population. The idea of this being the “solution” is the ultimate expression of the “Run Government Like A Business”, and late stage capitalism value extraction. It shows the value of the people as simply a product, and the final solution is to turn a blind eye while exploitation happens. This plan, by its nature, creates a system where profits can be maximized at the expense of human dignity. The need to hold those responsible accountable is crucial.
The fact that this was publicly reported and that the expansion of ICE was not met with more resistance is disturbing. To create this program is to support a plan of warehousing, work camps, and concentration camps. If our focus is not to address the problem, we will be forced to ask ourselves how we got here. The path of least resistance is now the path of least moral ground.
The parallels to the past are chilling. We cannot allow ourselves to become desensitized to the language used or the actions taken. The dehumanization of immigrants is a dangerous road, and it is a road that must be stopped. The notion of human beings being moved like packages should evoke a visceral reaction of disgust and determination to resist such a system. The implications that this statement from the ICE Acting Director are horrifying. He might as well have said, “ever been to the holocausts museum in DC? You stand in that boxcar and realize, they fit 200 people in there. That’s the efficiency we need.” There should never be a profit motive for denying another person their freedom. It’s immoral.