How Long Will Americans Put Up With Trump's ICE on Steroids?
By: Klaus Marre (WhoWhatWhy)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Klaus Marre07/06/25
While much of the damage that the GOP megabill does will be delayed, turning ICE into a Gestapo-like internal police force is going to happen right away. How much of that are Americans going to put up with?
Since it takes time to screw over the poor in a way that makes it less apparent to them that they are being screwed over, many of the provisions of the GOP's big, beautiful giveaway to the rich will not go into effect right away.
For example, the millions of Americans who will ultimately lose their health insurance because of the new law won't get kicked off Medicaid first thing on Monday morning. And families who received food assistance last week will also receive it next week, even though, in the end, millions of them will no longer be eligible for it.
Politically, this suits Republicans just fine. For some time, they will still be able to maintain the fiction that nobody who deserves to receive this type of federal aid will lose it. And, when it becomes apparent that this is a lie, the main victims of the bill, many of whom voted for Donald Trump, may have already forgotten who is to blame for their upcoming predicament.
However, there is one part of the bill that is too big to hide… and it could make all the difference in terms of how Americans perceive the legislation that Republicans pushed through Congress and that is going to greatly impact their lives whether they realize it or not: The transformation of ICE from a bunch of goons into the largest "law enforcement" agency in the United States.
We use the term "law enforcement" loosely because it is not clear which laws these unaccountable thugs are enforcing and/or following. In fact, most often, it looks as though they are just doing Trump's bidding, which is to provide the muscle for a deportation program that is designed to intimidate, to inflict pain, and to be cruel.
Not a day goes by without a new video surfacing that shows masked and heavily armed agents dragging unarmed brown people into unmarked vehicles before taking off to who knows where.
Some of them end up being shuttled from one detention facility to another to keep them out of reach of loved ones and lawyers, others might be sent to one of the new concentration camps that GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis is building in Florida, and yet others might find themselves in South Sudan or El Salvador — or any other developing country willing to take them in return for payment.
Some of the people being abducted are undocumented immigrants, others are legal residents, and yet others are American citizens. Some of them end up being found, others just disappear.
And this is what's been happening before Republicans voted to super-size ICE.
Now, after Trump signed the bill on Friday, the agency's budget is going to balloon. Over the next four years, ICE will have at least three times as much money available as it would have otherwise. Some of these funds are earmarked for building new detention facilities, while billions more will go toward hiring new goon-squad members.
Also, let's not forget that Trump wants the military to play a much greater role in assisting ICE and quelling any form of resistance.
If you have ever opened a history book, then you'll know that this is how fascists cement their power.
So, the game plan seems obvious: Put more ICE agents on the streets. Have them stalk Hispanic communities, workplaces, baseball games, and any other place where brown people may congregate. And then detain and deport as many of them as possible while quelling any form of resistance.
After all, Trump has set a target of 3,000 deportations per day. That might sound like a high number, but he better hope his supporters don't do the math, because, at that rate, his administration would "only" deport 1 million people annually.
That should seem like a paltry total to hard-core MAGA supporters, who have been told that 20 million illegals "invaded" the country under Joe Biden, and that all of them are vicious killers or insane.
They want every last "illegal" out of the country… or eaten by alligators.
A tweet that was removed from Laura Loomer's X account.
Photo credit: Miami-Dade Democratic Hispanic Caucus / Twitter
But we'll get to the expectations of the faithful in just a moment.
First, let's look at what will come next.
Both Trump and ICE agents are clearly feeling emboldened because they are not facing any kind of accountability. The Supreme Court keeps writing the president blank checks and congressional Republicans have absolutely no interest in conducting any kind of oversight of the administration.
As for the ICE agents themselves, in spite of ample video evidence of gross misconduct, none of them seems to ever be disciplined for roughing up anybody from immigrants to members of Congress. And what do bullies do when they don't experience any kind of pushback? They ramp up their bullying.
It's not difficult to see where this ends.
At some point, something really bad is going to happen — because you can't expect people who live in the country with the most guns to just stand by and watch their loved ones get snatched off the streets by a bunch of masked men who can't produce warrants.
Somebody is going to die.
But violence is what Trump wants, because an escalation of the situation would provide a justification to call up more troops and to put down dissent more brutally.
We are already seeing the administration laying the groundwork for this, with ICE conjuring up scary-sounding figures that are meant to show that "assaults" on its agents have skyrocketed. However, a closer look shows that we are talking about a tiny number of incidents, and that the increase is hardly surprising seeing how the agency is much more aggressive these days.
In addition, if the ICE statistics include incidents involving Democrats, like those in New Jersey, California, and New York, then these "assaults" consist of elected officials being manhandled.
What we are trying to say is that things are about to get a whole lot worse.
How much worse (and what happens next) depends on how long the American people will look the other way while Gestapo-like "law enforcement" officers commit acts of cruelty in plain sight, and how much economic damage ICE will cause with its deportations.
As for the first, we are not talking about physically confronting government agents who are outfitted for war. But there are many things that people can do. We have already seen that documenting ICE's brutality and getting the word out about it is highly effective.
So are protests and, even though it may not seem that way, messages to lawmakers.
There are plenty of Republicans who are uncomfortable with what is going on and who might feel buyer's remorse about their votes. Putting pressure on them can at least lead to some oversight.
Finally, people should look out for their immigrant neighbors.
This is a scary time for them. Many of them live in households in which some residents are American citizens, others are in the country legally, and others are undocumented. They must feel that, at any time, ICE could blow their door off its hinges and terrorize everybody inside.
Knowing that they are not alone could make a huge difference in their lives.
Ultimately, though, ICE could become a victim of its own "success."' In other words, the more immigrants it detains and deports, the more the economy will suffer.
For now, Trump seems to realize that, which is why he wants ICE to lay off farms, hotels, and restaurants. However, his base will not be content with selectively deporting brown people.
Hard-core MAGA supporters want all immigrants out of the country, which would devastate entire industries, such as the agricultural, construction, and hospitality sectors, and lead to higher prices and food shortages.
For the country to come to its senses, a certain amount of pain may be necessary. It is just too bad that so many innocent people will have to suffer in the meantime.
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I have a friend who came to America from India in around 1980. For many years she was not a citizen, but had permanent resident documentation. She finally became a US citizen around 20 years ago.
She sent me a text a couple days ago asking me what taking away naturalized citizenship means, because Trump had suggested he could do that.
Trump and his goons Noem and Homan are frightening millions of people.
There really is a legal process for denaturalization.
A naturalized citizen cannot be deported. But a denaturalized citizen can be deported.
Pretty sure most true Americans will be OK for the deportation of illegals for as long as it takes. They know that is God forbid, another democrat president gets elected in 2928, the flood gates will open again because it is obvious democrats needs the continuous influx of voters.
For the rest of America, it will be a didsaeter.
Nothing unconstitutional about what is going on.
No legal immigrants have been or will be deported. And it's just plain stupid to think US citizens will be deported.
And who are these "brown people" the left prattles on about? Sounds like a racist comment.
Most Hispanic citizens in the US support what Trump us doing in regard to illegal immigration and deportation
Your first two "points" are just idiotic and not worth the response. However, to respond to your third post, what proof do you have that only "brown people" are being deported. I believe I asked you the same question earlier but got no response.
Do you think it is only a coincidence that the vast majority of people here illegally are from countries that are dominant "brown people", and that is the reason the majority of those deported are brown, or do you have another conspiracy to share?
Also, I am quite certain that you have proof that citizen "brown people" have been deported s/
Apparently you've never heard of "due process". Look it up..
Migrants in U.S. legally and with no criminal history caught up in Trump crackdown
It was a "racist" comment, but now it is just a quote.
Trump: Why allow immigrants from ‘shithole countries’?
I have asked you this several times in the past few weeks, each time you fail to respond, so I will ask again.
What "due process" was given to the illegals the "deporter in chief" deported during his reign?
Were each and every one of them given a court date? Were each and every one of them allowed to argue against their deportation order?
We already know the answer, but because of "buttttttt Truuuuuuuuuuuump",
This is a lie.
The fact that the question you are asking is readily available on the internet for anyone to see tells me that you do not want to see it.
So while there were questions about Obama's process violating due process, it was never brought before a judge to prove there was a violation. Trump's was, and it was deemed unconstitutional.
In simple terms, Obama's was an unsubstantiated claim, whereas Trump's was declared as such by SCOTUS.
Wonder why that was? Probably because most on the left would scream "racist" if someone questioned king Obama.
It happened all too often.
But because it is Trump, triggering is a side effect of TDS.
But did they get that "due process"? My guess, and I am usually correct, that the answer is no. He deported more illegals than Trump has, so there is no way that many illegals stood in front of a judge to argue their case. To think otherwise is delusional.
Are you saying that republicans across the country were so afraid of their democratic constituents calling them names that they were too afraid to do their jobs? I guess that means that every republican would be a candy ass powderpuff girl? Is that your claim???
Apparently you go on to believe that despite the executive branch's threats against them, democrats across the country are willing to stand up to Trump with court actions.
So in other words, you believe that republicans are pussies while democrats are willing to stand up for what they believe in. I have a hard time arguing against that.
You keep asking the same question without the willingness to research for yourself. Once again, there is no evidence to show that they did not receive due process under Obama's accelerated deportations. So your implying that they didn't, is nothing more than a MAGA wet dream.
Obama’s 3.2 million deportations, with 75–83% lacking due process , set a precedent for efficient but controversial immigration enforcement.
Deportations and Due Process: Comparing Obama and Trump Policies
During the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama, immigration authorities deported more than 3 million people, 75% to 83% of whom did not see a judge or have the opportunity to plead their case.
US deported more than 3M people during Obama presidency. Most did not have chance to plead case in court | Snopes.com
At least three-quarters of people deported in 2012 didn’t get a hearing from an immigration judge, according to statistics from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Expedited removal deportations: Immigrants don't get due process | The New Republic
Your denial in face of the actual facts that Obama didn't deport the worthless illegals without due process is just a liberal wet dream.
Show me the money judicial rulings!!!
Due process is a legal term. So unless you want to claim that all the republicans in Congress were too afraid to make a case about a clear violation of the Constitution (an impeachable offense), show me the law suits.
Deflection fail, you asked for proof, and it was provided from 1 right and 2 left leaning sources, your ignorant denials aside it happened, and the right wants the illegals gone so why would they sue? your comment is ignorant on its face. plus you would have been a complete moron to want Biden to be President.
With rogue judges whom most of them have had their assess handed to them by SCOTUS. Most on the left do not believe in laws, legislature or compromise. All they know is to put their judge friends on Republicans because nothing else they do works.
"willing to stand up for what they believe in"
The only way most leftists know how to do this is through violence. There are reports of lawmakers saying their constituents tell them they should take a bullet for the liberal cult ideology......and , oh, yea.......but Truuuuump
Don't need to. You did it for me, to wit..."here is no evidence to show that they did not receive due process under Obama's accelerated deportations."
You admit they did not get the due process you demand of Trump. How do I know that? Because if they did, every left wing rag in the country would run stories proving he did.
There are none...only the bullshit in which you "think" what happened.
A news article that does not even cite examples is not "evidence". If it was considered evidence, FoxNews would be 3/4 of a billion dollars richer right now.
So you're saying they are a bunch of pussies too afraid to do their jobs. I mean it's not like republicans were trying to find any excuse to impeach Obama at that time, huh?
Yup, just look at all those leftists.
I bet the guy with the horns is a communist, socialist, satanist, pro-abortionist...
You guys are hilarious. The only example of violence you can muster up is Jan 6 and Charlottesville……whereas there are MANY examples of you (collective you) leftists engaging in violence all the time over the past 10 years.
Most liberal male mantra ‘ if our pussies hurt, we have to burn something down’
as soon as the words “gestapo like” appear it’s clear the article is too silly to bother with.
By all accounts, and as proven by some videos, ICE hirees (I dont think they deserve to be called ICE agents) put people into unmarked cars with no explanation given , no identification of themselves, and dressed like paid mercenaries.
I dont have any problem with describing them as "Gestapo-like", because while they are not Gestapo exactly, they do bear some similarities. As for how serious those similarities are, that is for our society to determine.
They are simply another branch of LAW ENFORECEMENT, who have been given the mission and the necessary tools to enforce immigration laws.
Unmarked cars are a given, as are plain clothes, and the masks keep the drug thugs from doxing them and threatening their families
as for the identifying themselves , the only ones they are required to do that to is the one they place in custody .
as for showing up looking like paid mercs, this isnt the 60s where LEO showed up in shirtsleeves and half motorcycle helmets , personal protective equipment has come a long way since those days and the masks can be considered PPE as a barrier from spitters or those that like to throw things in peoples faces .
I say , dont like them wearing those things , dont give them a reason to think they have to .
Someone a while back mentioned some of these were warrantless arrests , those making those claims have no way of knowing that . that system is not open to the general public .
The short time i did work as a civilian LEO, there is a thing I called a hook or knucklehead warrant, usually what they were was a warrant issued by a court for failure to appear for a court date for some minor infraction . and usually a very low priority item , meaning they are not actively being looked for . but if you catch them you can bag them .
Thing is once the warrant is issued , ANY LEO agency or individual anywhere in the country can effect an arrest on it to take someone into custody .
I think you can see why i called them hook or knucklehead warrants .
have to be a knucklehead to not show up in court when your suppose to , and it just gives LEO a hook to take one into custody , where once in custody they can serve other citations and warrants .
EDIT* these types of warrants never expire either , they can be from decades ago .
It seems like all these articles are written by the same person and contain the same lies and misinformation.
Malicious fearmongering at its worst.
Its cute that you think only one person objects to all this.
that's no worse than the over use of marxist
how long will we put up with ICE on steroids?
Until the problem is solved
I think we're going to get to a point where the word gets out that they've accidentally detained or even deported American citizens. I suspect things will slow down substantially at that point.
What I think we will see are fake stories of "citizens" being deported, with headlines like "Florida citizen deported", but no names will be given and no specifics of where the "capture " happened.
It is all a ruse by the left wing media to call out the loons on the left to attack and smear ICE once again.
They're talking about trying to deport somewhere between 10 million and 15 million illegal aliens. They are using a Clinton era law that allows them to do so without due process.
Whether or not you think those things are good ideas (I'm ambivalent), the math on this isn't really debatable.
They are going to make some mistakes. The probability that they won't mistakenly detain hundreds (at least) of US citizens in this process is so near to zero it's not worth discussing. That's a violation of the 4th Amendment.
Now, they can detain people for probable cause, but "he looked Mexican and was standing outside Home Depot" does not meet that standard.
Almost no US citizens carry proof of that status on their persons. Most of us don't even have passports, and nobody carries their birth certificate. The probability they won't mistakenly deport an American citizen is significantly higher than the probability they won't mistakenly detain one, but still very, very small.
IDGAF how badly they want these people out of the country. They don't get to violate the Constitution to do it.
I have no issue in what you posted. Yes there will be mistakes made. Nothing will ever be perfect, especially when you are dealing with millions of people whom do not want to get caught.
If a citizen is detained, many times, there is a good chance that person was interfering with law enforcement. There is also good chance that there will be mistaken identities. These people will eventually be released and life will go on.
Ordinarily you would read this and think... "naaaah.. that's just a rationalization".
But you are absolutely correct. There is zero doubt that some of these people who have convinced themselves our democracy needs protection from its own laws will attempt to take their Harry Potter wands into battle.
The County i live in has a dally rag it usually publishes the arrest reports from the county and a couple towns online.
many are picked up for what some consider minor , but as i posted elsewhere about "knucklehead warrants " there are quite a few for failure to appear and funny enough , quite a few for interference when one of those are picked up. which usually generates MORE FTA warrants .