The column below reflects the views of the author, and these opinions are neither endorsed nor supported by WisOpinion.com.
In September, President Trump issued a sweeping directive to federal law enforcement that people who hold views or object to administration policies are “domestic terrorists.”
The Department of Homeland Security shifted from defending America against foreign threats to deploying federal power on American streets using “domestic terrorism” to justify it. The goal of demonizing immigrants goes beyond mass deportations but is also to terrorize Americans into accepting the domination of federal power over their daily lives.
America’s largest federal law enforcement agency has become Trump’s own national police force. Trump’s business background taught him that you need leverage over people to get what you want from them. Guns and badges make for strong leverage over everyday Americans.
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When the President tells ICE agents to use “whatever means necessary” against protestors or the Vice President says agents have absolute immunity” after killing civilians; it means the government is using “terrorism” as a weapon of domination over its citizens.
In Minneapolis the DOJ, rather than investigating the deaths, is condoning lawless killing of Americans by agents of the government. ICE agents are collecting images, license plate data and identifications of protestors and observers as one agent exclaimed, “We have a nice little database and now you are considered a ‘domestic terrorist.’”
Officials are using DHS to both rid America of “domestic terrorists” and to fill ordinary Americans with fear and intimidation of their government for simply holding views contrary to those of the administration.
DHS actions have blurred the lines between immigration and political intimidation, making it easy to use ICE agents for political purposes. This could be particularly concerning during elections if federal forces interfere with Americans’ right to choose their elected officials.
We must not allow our government to use immigration enforcement to target American citizens objecting to this administration’s policies by labeling them “domestic terrorists.”
– Hanson, of Elkhorn, is a member of the Walworth County Democratic Party.
