Stephen Robinson
“The friendly folks at US Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) announced Tuesday that federal authorities have arrested 170 immigrants who came forward to sponsor migrant children in government custody. This is the result of a new, fun rule the Department of Homeland Security put into effect this summer. It allows immigration authorities to examine the criminal background and legal status of anyone who attempts to sponsor the unaccompanied minors — usually parents or close relatives already in the country. They can even check the papers of any other adults living in their home, including Grandma.
It's a masterclass in evil: Use defenseless children as bait to lure immigrants to the authorities. It's like when scofflaws show up at police headquarters to collect their "free prize," which is actually just jail. Of course, this is far more repulsive because the government is preying on immigrants' concern for the well-being of their family members. This is usually why it's Lex Luthor who kidnaps Lois Lane or Martha Kent. You don't see Superman holding Lex's sister hostage in return for an orderly surrender. Although ruthlessly efficient, it would lead to a much shorter and more depressing movie.
ICE concedes that 109 of the immigrants arrested had no criminal record. The remaining 61 had criminal records, but ICE wouldn't specify what those were. They could've just shown up with copies of "Blurred Lines." ICE also claims with a straight face that it can't break down convictions by violent and nonviolent offenses. Why not? Isn't that important? They sound like the customer service representative who sounds like they're looking up your account information on a 1990s Dell.
The talking heads on Fox will argue that illegal immigration is already a horrible crime. Who cares if you haven't broken any laws while here? These people will later claim that Robert Mueller is "persecuting" all the sundry felons in Trump's orbit like some Puritan witch hunter. Poor babies. But what about the actual babies the government is using as human glue traps? What happens to to them once their relatives are busted? They just get more time at the Trump-brand kiddie spas.”
Just when you think you’re reaching bottom...