Brief Summary
This video explores the history and evolution of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) in the United States, focusing on its increasing budget, shifting priorities, and impact on immigrant communities. It examines how ICE's focus has expanded from deporting criminals to targeting a broader range of immigrants, including those with no criminal record, and the consequences of these policies on individuals, families, and the economy. The video also touches on the political rhetoric surrounding immigration and its influence on public perception.
- ICE's budget has significantly increased, leading to a more aggressive approach to immigration enforcement.
- ICE's priorities have shifted from focusing on criminals to including a broader range of immigrants, impacting families and communities.
- Political rhetoric has played a significant role in shaping public perception of immigrants and influencing immigration policies.
Intro
The video begins by highlighting the substantial budget of ICE, around $10 billion annually, and its increasing presence in the news due to raids and detentions of immigrants. ICE, created in the early 2000s, initially aimed to deport all removable aliens. Under the Trump administration, ICE arrests have surged, with a focus on portraying immigrants as criminals. However, data reveals that the largest increase in arrests is among those with no criminal record, raising questions about the agency's priorities and the impact of increased funding. The video aims to understand these trends and their implications, especially with potential budget increases for ICE.
America before ICE
The video shifts to discuss the history of immigration in the United States, starting in the early 20th century. It highlights the need for seasonal labor in agriculture, which was largely filled by Mexican workers. Until the 1960s, this labor was legal and encouraged by the U.S. government. However, Congress ended the program due to concerns about labor abuse and the desire to have American workers fill these jobs. Despite the change in law, the flow of workers continued, leading to a growing undocumented population. Efforts to fortify the border in the 1980s and 1990s did not deter people from coming, as families began to settle and integrate into American communities. By the 2000s, there were 10 million undocumented immigrants, essential to various industries but without a path to legal status. While there was political appetite to provide a legal pathway for these immigrants, the events of 9/11 shifted the focus to security concerns.
Homeland Security
Following the 9/11 attacks, immigration became intertwined with security issues, leading to the creation of the Department of Homeland Security in 2002. The Immigration and Naturalization Service was replaced by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), signaling a more militarized and security-focused approach to immigration. The U.S. Constitution guarantees due process for every person, meaning that individuals found to be in the country illegally are entitled to a trial. Detention centers are used to hold migrants awaiting their hearings, but they are meant to be temporary and not punitive. After 9/11, Congress did not pass major immigration reforms, leaving it to the president to enforce existing laws.
Collateral Enforcement
Under the Obama administration, there was an effort to balance being a nation of laws and a nation of immigrants. Obama aimed to pass immigration laws but also deported many people, earning him the nickname "deporter-in-chief." His administration focused on deporting criminals and those who posed a threat to society. ICE primarily relied on local police to identify individuals to deport. However, some cities, known as sanctuary cities, began to push back against this practice, treating undocumented immigrants like anyone else and not holding them for ICE. Trump's campaign was highly critical of immigrants, framing them as criminals. Upon taking office, he authorized ICE to pick up anyone found along the way who might be in the country illegally, a practice known as collateral enforcement.
National Emergency
During Trump's first presidency, ICE raids became more visible. However, many of his policies were blocked by the courts. He attempted to implement a Muslim ban, cut federal funding to sanctuary cities, and end the DACA program, but these efforts were deemed illegal. The Trump administration learned from these failures and prepared for future policy implementations. After Biden won the presidency, there was a surge of people coming to the border, partly due to the change in administration and partly due to economic instability in South America. While many were deported, some were released into the United States while awaiting a hearing. Biden also continued a Trump-era policy of expelling many new immigrants without processing them, leading to repeat border crossings.
ICE Unleashed
Trump's second presidential campaign focused on the issue of immigration, promising the largest deportation operation in American history. Upon winning the election, his administration was prepared to implement stricter policies. Trump declared a national emergency on the border, sent the military there, froze the refugee program, and suspended asylum. He revived an 18th-century war law to justify deporting gang members and made it easier to deport people without due process. With fewer people coming to the border, the focus shifted to deporting people from the interior. ICE was authorized to pick up anyone they encountered during an operation, leading to raids in restaurants, factories, and even a child's birthday party. The administration also targeted green card holders and deported people to countries they were not from.
