ABOLISH ICE

Ten years ago, the annual budget for Immigration and Customs Enforcement was less than $6 billion — notably smaller than other agencies within DHS, the Department of Homeland (in)Security. But ICE's budget has skyrocketed during President Trump's second term and is now the highest-funded U.S. law enforcement agency with an $85 billion budget. ... Above, your tax dollars at work.

Whoever is a presidential candidate in 2028 must commit to abolishing ICE. Its agents, the Sturmtruppen, are egged on by Herr Trump and Herr S. Miller. ICE is poorly led and is now out of control. Our nation can tolerate a small number of immigrants with criminal backgrounds. These days it's wholesale arrests and deportations of large numbers of people who are, or look like, Hispanics. Many taken into custody have lived here for decades, worked, paid taxes, raised families and otherwise aspired to a better life, as virtually all newcomers do.

We have just learned that when there is actual or suspected illegal action by ICE agents, DHS will investigate itself. The FBI will no longer look into the clashes with the public that turn violent or even lethal. ICE work is race-baiting, different only in degree from the Nazi assaults on Jews — such as the infamous 1938 attack known as kristallnacht, (below, right) the “night of broken glass”.

According to factually.co ICE employed more than 20,000 agents and enforcement personnel in 2025.The president is pushing hard to recruit even more and will try to erect even more immigration prisons around the country and, duh, rising NIMBY opposition.

For now, and until its future is resolved, ICE should be removed from the incompetent purview of the Department of Homeland (in)Security and overseen by the Department of Justice. There would be cause for concern should this occur before Trump leaves office. We can only hope that this would be different in a new administration, even a Republican one.

Meanwhile, ICE agents will have to adhere to new rules:

>  No masks

>  Clearly visible frontal ID: full name, badge number, current color photo

>  No entry on any private property without a judicial warrant

Most of all, no hanging around courtrooms or other federal, state or local agencies to entrap people obeying the law when they show up for scheduled appointments.

For years, the Nursing Home on the Hill has made sputtering attempts at immigration law reform. Nothing has changed. Only Congress can get in the way of Herr Trump and Commandant Stephen Miller, the true immigration power-monger. BTW, where does his gut hate come from? He grew up in pinkish Santa Monica with politically liberal parents.

Was he hit by a wave?

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