By John Q. Hosedrinker 
The Department of Homeland Security’s recent use of a white supremacist anthem in an ICE recruitment ad mirrors the ideology of the Proud Boys, a group tied to the January 6th Capitol riot. This is not the first instance where the actions of ICE, under Secretary Kristi Noem, have resembled the neo-fascist group’s tactics and goals as laid out by Gavin McInnes. McInnes, through his show, promoted violent rhetoric, targeting minorities and liberals, as a means of restoring a perceived loss of status for white men. Ultimately, the article reveals that the same justifications used by McInnes to build the Proud Boys, are being used by the current administration to justify acts of violence.
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How Kristi Noem turned ICE into the Proud Boys starts with a pretty straightforward premise: it appears that ICE, under Kristi Noem’s leadership, has begun to resemble the Proud Boys, a group known for its neo-fascist ideology. It’s not just a matter of coincidence, either. The article suggests a deliberate mirroring, with tactics and ideologies aligning eerily closely.
The shift seems to be in how ICE operates and the core beliefs that drive its actions. The aesthetics of ICE, from the masks they use to the language they employ, bear a striking resemblance to the Proud Boys. The use of phrases like “FAFO” (Eff Around and Find Out) further reinforces this connection. It’s not just about appearances, though. The underlying mission and the way ICE carries out its duties seem to have been significantly influenced.
The connection might seem to be that Noem hired the Proud Boys directly. In a nutshell, it was a move to integrate them into ICE. This isn’t just a simple matter of recruitment; it suggests a deeper alignment of values and goals. The suggestion is that she actively sought them out, turning the Proud Boys into ICE agents.
This seems to stem from a larger strategic shift. It’s no secret that the Proud Boys are an organization that has a recruitment pool of disenfranchised individuals who are driven by a sense of resentment. The article also touches on how this aligns with the broader political climate. Noem, and those in her circle, may have recognized that the Proud Boys’ ideology was not just a fringe movement, but something they could tap into.
Noem’s actions appear to reflect a deeper agenda. The article argues that the Proud Boys weren’t just “hired” by Noem; in a sense, they *became* ICE. This, again, points to a deliberate strategy, where the lines between the agency and the group blurred. It wasn’t a matter of one entity adopting the characteristics of the other; it was more like a merger of ideologies and personnel.
Some of the comments point out that this is also about bypassing traditional vetting processes. It suggests that individuals with criminal records or affiliations with hate groups are no longer automatically disqualified. In fact, those things seem to be a criteria in being hired. This would explain how so many Proud Boys are ending up in ICE.
The implications of this are significant. It creates a situation where the agency, designed to enforce laws, appears to be adopting the ethos of a group known for its extremist views. This could have several negative consequences, including a further erosion of public trust in law enforcement, increased targeting of specific groups, and a potential for abuse of power.
The article clearly indicates how the Proud Boys’ transformation into ICE is linked to the broader political landscape, particularly the rise of extreme ideologies. It’s a sobering look at how groups known for their hatred are becoming part of institutions intended to uphold the law.
Essentially, the process involves a shift in recruitment and values. The agency’s priorities seem to have changed, allowing those with extremist views to integrate within it. This change has led to a situation where ICE looks more and more like the very group it’s supposed to be preventing.