The US has descended into an era of lawless vigilantism, where Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers are empowered to target anyone deemed "suspicious" without due process. The killing of Renee Good by an ICE officer in February sparked widespread outrage, yet the agency's actions have been a gradual erosion of civil liberties for years.
The seeds of this authoritarianism were sown after 9/11, when President George W Bush created ICE to tackle immigration and security concerns. Over time, its scope expanded to include non-citizens convicted of felonies or misdemeanors, as well as gang members and immigrants caught at the border. The agency's powers grew exponentially under Barack Obama, and then Donald Trump supercharged it into a praetorian guard-style force.
To create this dystopian landscape, several factors came together: an unhinged right-wing media fueling scaremongering about illegal immigration; a culture of racism disguising itself as concerns for public safety; and a long history of military supremacy that blurred the lines between policing and warfare. The result is a society where you can be stopped and questioned by ICE officers at any time, not just those deemed "legitimate targets."
The chilling factor is not just the violence or the deployment of large numbers of forces but the pervasive sense of unease and fear that permeates everyday life. As I grew up under repressive regimes, I know what it's like to live with the constant possibility of being targeted, whether due to a tone-deaf comment at a traffic incident or an innocuous post on social media.
The US is now walking down a path similar to the one the UK has already taken. The relentless portrayal of immigrants as threats to safety and social cohesion; the glamorization of crackdown imagery in government propaganda; the expansion of police powers, including the seizure of mobile phones during protests – all these signs point to a society where civil rights are being eroded.
The warning signs are not limited to Britain alone. Across the world, authoritarian tendencies are growing, fueled by charismatic leaders and right-wing media amplifying fear-mongering narratives. It's a global phenomenon that demands attention and action from citizens and policymakers alike. As we watch the US descend further into this dystopian landscape, it's crucial to recognize the warning signs and take steps to protect our freedoms before they're lost forever.
The seeds of this authoritarianism were sown after 9/11, when President George W Bush created ICE to tackle immigration and security concerns. Over time, its scope expanded to include non-citizens convicted of felonies or misdemeanors, as well as gang members and immigrants caught at the border. The agency's powers grew exponentially under Barack Obama, and then Donald Trump supercharged it into a praetorian guard-style force.
To create this dystopian landscape, several factors came together: an unhinged right-wing media fueling scaremongering about illegal immigration; a culture of racism disguising itself as concerns for public safety; and a long history of military supremacy that blurred the lines between policing and warfare. The result is a society where you can be stopped and questioned by ICE officers at any time, not just those deemed "legitimate targets."
The chilling factor is not just the violence or the deployment of large numbers of forces but the pervasive sense of unease and fear that permeates everyday life. As I grew up under repressive regimes, I know what it's like to live with the constant possibility of being targeted, whether due to a tone-deaf comment at a traffic incident or an innocuous post on social media.
The US is now walking down a path similar to the one the UK has already taken. The relentless portrayal of immigrants as threats to safety and social cohesion; the glamorization of crackdown imagery in government propaganda; the expansion of police powers, including the seizure of mobile phones during protests – all these signs point to a society where civil rights are being eroded.
The warning signs are not limited to Britain alone. Across the world, authoritarian tendencies are growing, fueled by charismatic leaders and right-wing media amplifying fear-mongering narratives. It's a global phenomenon that demands attention and action from citizens and policymakers alike. As we watch the US descend further into this dystopian landscape, it's crucial to recognize the warning signs and take steps to protect our freedoms before they're lost forever.
I'm seriously worried about what's happening in the US right now 
. The idea that ICE officers can just stop and question anyone without a good reason is insane 
. It's like living in a bad movie or something 
. And it's not just the violence, it's the way people are being treated like they're some kind of threat 
. As someone who's lived under different kinds of regimes, I can tell you how scary and terrifying that must be for people on the streets 
.
. We need to hold our leaders accountable and demand better 
. It's not just about civil liberties, it's about basic human rights 
. And if we don't take action now, I fear that we'll lose everything we've fought for in the past 
. We can raise awareness and mobilize people to take action 
. We just need to be brave enough to speak out and stand up for what's right 
. Let's do this! 
I gotta say, the whole thing about ICE just being allowed to do whatever without due process is super concerning 
. I mean, come on, we should be focusing on real issues like economic inequality and healthcare, not just using fear-mongering to keep people down.
.
. It's like they think we're all just going to roll over and let them do their thing 
. And it's not just the violence or the deportations, it's the everyday fear of being targeted for no reason 
. And what's with the media perpetuating this fear-mongering narrative? Can't we just have a conversation about immigration and its complexities without resorting to scapegoating certain groups? 
. It's time to take action before it's too late 
. It's not just immigrants who are being targeted, it's everyday people who get stopped at random for no apparent reason 
. We're living in a society where fear is the norm, and it's freaking me out 
. The only way to stop this from happening is if we as citizens speak up and demand our rights back 
... like, people are getting stopped by ICE for no reason at all! 
, doesn't it? how did us go from being this beacon of freedom and democracy to this dystopian nightmare where anyone can be targeted without due process? 
. and the worst part is, i think a lot of us are too complacent or too scared to speak out against this creeping authoritarianism 
.
And I'm worried it's not just the US that's heading down this path, other countries are already seeing similar authoritarian tendencies and it's giving me the chills 
. We need to stand up for each other and demand better from our government. This isn't just about the US – it's a global issue that requires attention and action 
and yeah, I can relate to feeling like thats a really scary place to be... but the thing is, its not just the US anymore... its happening all over the world