By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Recent reports have shown law enforcement officers wearing uniforms simply labeled “DHS Police,” despite no single agency by that name existing. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) encompasses approximately 80,000 officers across nine different agencies, with varying areas of enforcement. This concentrated power within DHS raises concerns about potential misuse and corruption, which has been evident in recent events. The broad designation may obscure the specific agency the officers belong to, while granting the department a vast amount of coercive authority.
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Abolish ICE? DHS Too. It’s Time.
It’s clear: the call to abolish ICE isn’t just a political rallying cry; it’s a necessary step towards reclaiming a semblance of justice and human decency in a system that has gone terribly astray. The very idea of an agency like ICE, born from the aftermath of 9/11 and the anti-terrorism fervor, should make us shudder. The claim that ICE’s actions are tantamount to war tactics is not an exaggeration. The targeting of legal immigrants, the aggressive tactics, the door-to-door harassment, and the blatant disregard for basic human rights mirror a disturbing pattern that has no place in a democratic society.
This isn’t about semantics; it’s about acknowledging a fundamental shift. ICE is essentially a police state extension, built on a foundation of fear and fueled by a misguided sense of security. Its focus on ethnic cleansing, regardless of intent, is a terrifying prospect. The bare minimum for reclaiming our country is the dismantling of ICE. But the conversation shouldn’t stop there.
The creation of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was presented as a solution. However, this has morphed into a sprawling, overreaching entity with little accountability. The original intent was to streamline information sharing between intelligence agencies, yet it has ballooned into a behemoth. The question remains: What does DHS do that the FBI couldn’t? The alarming statistics, like ICE’s firearm death rate being ten times the national average since Trump’s re-election, paint a grim picture of a system out of control.
The consensus appears to be clear: both ICE and DHS need to go. Despite the predictable resistance from those in power—the Trumps, the Republicans, and even some Democrats—the voices of those who see the threat are growing louder. The parallels to the SS and Gestapo are not made lightly; the actions of ICE and DHS are a dangerous erosion of our freedoms, a betrayal of the very principles this country was founded upon. It’s time to recognize that these agencies are less about protecting the country and more about curtailing individual liberties.
The problem runs deeper than individual agencies; it’s systemic. The overreach of the executive branch, coupled with a lack of oversight, has created a fertile ground for abuse of power. The erosion of civil liberties, the militarization of law enforcement, and the blatant disregard for due process are all symptoms of a broken system. The chilling effect on our society is undeniable.
This conversation should have happened long ago, when DHS was first created. The warnings were there, but they were dismissed. Now, the consequences are on full display: people are disappearing, being abused, and stripped of their rights. The voices of those who suffered at the hands of DHS are being heard, and the outcry to abolish ICE and dismantle DHS is growing louder.
The true problem with ICE is that it’s a costly and inefficient organization, driven by a hidden agenda. The exorbitant cost per deportation is a testament to its mismanagement. The fines levied against employers of undocumented workers are laughably low. This begs the question: is ICE really about protecting American jobs? Or is it about something far more sinister?
The answer to this question is crucial. If the purpose of ICE is not to protect American jobs, then what is it? The conclusion is unavoidable: ICE serves as a secret police force, poised to be deployed for other purposes. The Patriot Act also needs to be removed. Trump’s time in office proved the executive branch has far too much power, and control of all agencies and oversight is too much. The DOJ should be its own entity.
The idea that the DHS just gives general designation that these are law enforcement officers from within the Department of Homeland Security, should be concerning to anyone. A huge amount of coercive power has been concentrated in this one department. The lack of accountability and oversight is simply unacceptable.
We got along without these agencies before, and we can do so again. But this time, it needs to be done right. The current system is broken, and it’s time for radical change. And it isn’t just about abolishing ICE and DHS; it’s about reforming the entire system. It’s about ensuring accountability, protecting civil liberties, and restoring faith in the very foundations of our democracy. We should limit their operations to the actual border and remove the 100-mile bullshit. They need to go, and the entire system needs to be overhauled.
It’s time for a revolution in our thinking about law enforcement, immigration, and national security. The creation of these agencies was born from the Bush administration’s panic, and it needs to be replaced with the DOJ and DoD. The unfettered power in the executive branch is the root of the problem.