Opinion | Trump Is Waging War on Americans With ICE

Trump is utilizing ICE to wage battle on Americans. “He forcefully opened the door.” In Chicago, my hometown, brokers rappelled out of helicopters in the course of the night time, kicking in doorways. And that doesn’t even start to explain the complete madness of the scenario. It’s like we’re residing in an episode of “Black Mirror.” ICE has been releasing spotlight reels of their raids set to hip-hop music, like Name of Responsibility streamers —— “And the automobile got here with a blunt on it ——” “As a result of I piss on them regardless.” All of this is part of a plan set in movement When Texas Gov. Greg Abbott despatched buses of Venezuelan asylum seekers to Chicago —— “Within the useless of winter, They’re carrying flip-flops. They’re carrying short-sleeve shirts and shorts.” So town stepped up. I partnered with native eating places to offer meals and clothes as a result of individuals freeze to demise in Chicago winters. However in a metropolis of a lot inequity, a lot of the stress of offering for the brand new arrivals fell on the Black neighborhood. The town is extraordinarily segregated attributable to redlining and institutional racism. When the brand new immigrants acquired right here, sources have been diverted away from Black Chicago’s most weak. “South facet has been under-resourced, underfunded for years ——” And that created huge resentment. “The cash must be put into these services for us.” That was 2023. Quick-forward to 2025, and Trump despatched in ICE to seek out the identical Venezuelan immigrants the Texas governor beforehand bused into Chicago. Since then, brokers have been seen choking a Black man at size by the facet of the street, swarming South Facet neighborhoods. They’ve been filmed assaulting and arresting native aldermen, a journalist —— “I’m Debbie Brockman. I work for WGN.” “Oh my God.” And even tear-gassing Chicago cops. “13 members of the Chicago Police Division reported publicity to the gasoline.” Chicago appears like a metropolis beneath martial legislation. And because the Trump administration continues on its warpath, issues are escalating. “They’re driving out the neighborhood and throwing tear gasoline out the window.” All of this serves the Trump administration’s agenda. They’re attempting to capitalize on chaos, to rationalize assaults on its Democratic opponents. What it truly is is terrorism that they’re justifying with the presence of Venezuelan asylum seekers. The strain is extremely excessive, understandably, nevertheless it’s extra essential than ever that we be unified, be intentional, and we don’t fall for his or her divide and conquer technique, as a result of we’re going to want to face up for the human rights of everybody if we need to defend these rights for ourselves.