from the series Something I Said…
By DWIGHT HOBBES
An absence of accountability is the core evil at the heart of ICE’s nightmarish assault on humanity, driven by President Donald Trump’s ruthless abuse of power. He has never taken responsibility for any wrong doing, most conspicuously egging on, then pardoning the January 6, 2021 White House rioters who committed wanton violence against law enforcement and everyone else in their wake of wholesale destruction. Accordingly, ICE heeded his lead, beating, locking up, even killing citizens with impunity.
The worst of it is this stemmed from a legitimate, quite lawful premise. Even affirmative action icon President Barack Obama oversaw upwards of 3 million deportations over his two terms – 400,000 in 2012. It wasn’t, however, characterized by atrocities, but carried out via due process not persecution. Importantly, it was a matter of diligently pursuing illegal immigrants, not outright xenophobic bigotry typical of the present administration. Trump passes relentless racism off as contentious, stalwart safeguarding of national security.
Immigration agents falsified statements during Operation Metro Surge, the campaign that notoriously scandalized America before the world. They lied to hide culpability, taking a page out of the president’s playbook. They did this because higher-ups had their back. Video footage documented Renee Good was framed after her murder, labelled a domestic terrorist. After which Border Patrol Commander at the time Gregory Bovino told prosecutors “We’re going to pacify this place, we’re going to roll ‘em up. We’re not going to wait on the local PD, we’re not going to piss with it.” Within weeks the Department of Homeland Security claimed Alex Pretti had presented an aggressive, armed threat to federal agents. But, he was held down, unarmed when he was shot. Agents said detainee Alberto Castañeda Mondragón ran himself headlong into a brick wall. Hennepin County Medical Center staff testified that could not account for eight skull fractures. Not one ICE agent has answered for these actions.
Such callous disregard for life came from the top down. Because Good and Pretti stuck up for people of color and Mondragón was one – all three targeted in a push to purge the US of as many Mexicans as possible however it could be done. Consider this in the same light that saw Trump authorize the expedited resettlement of thousands of white South Africans en masse. Complete with gift bags.
None of the senseless brutality was necessary. And wouldn’t’ve happened had Operation Metro Surge been conducted with tactics in keeping with responsible enforcement of law. Instead, it was an irresponsible, bloodthirsty headhunting expedition countenanced by the president of the United States of America.
