In 2024, President Trump campaigned on a pledge of "mass deportation." The Trump administration is attempting to deport one million undocumented immigrants in one year, a goal Vice President JD Vance floated last summer.
This initiative is like putting $1,000 under a box propped up by a stick and hoping migrants take the bait. It's for sure a trap, and it's a cartoonist one, at that.
It looks like the cost per migrant is around $82K? (3.4 Bn divided by around 41K?) “Congress last year appropriated $3.4 billion for ICE for detention, which it said was enough funding for 41,500 detention beds.” And that doesn’t include forgone revenue from the multiple forms of taxes they could be paying. Brilliant strategy, real Republican fiscal conservatism there.
Politics of hate knows no fiscal responsibility as most of those sought by ICE are brown or black. In my mind that is the regime issue and a not so well hidden tenet of the GOP.
Trump and his crude and cruel offers of a meagre $1000--he can only think in terms of money! The last paragraph sums up what seems obvious to any thinking person:
"you might have a lot of those people say I don't trust the government, and so I'm not going to come forward and put my name on a list if they didn't know I was already in the country. Maybe I can just leave and stay off the radar, rather than self-report and come forward."
They've been here long enough to know that Trump lies rather than tell the truth.
Wonderful explanation of a complex mess. Wouldn't it make so much sense (and save a ton of money) if they just let most of these immigrants (especially those with jobs, families, property) become citizens of our country!
A year ago there was a bipartisan bill to increase staffing at the border, expand detention facilities, and add immigration judges. It was opposed by trump. He wanted it as a campaign issue. The election is over and now he does not want to reform immigration because he just wants to use immigrants as a focus for hate.
Better yet, don't let them become citizens...just ignore them. They buy stuff. They take jobs Americans won't for sub-standard wages. They pay taxes and will never get entitlements. Win-win! /s
Yeah, I didn't really thing $1K was very much. You can't even pay rent for that here and I don't think it goes very far in other countries either. On the other hand, not being able to get back to the U.S. could be "meh" terrain if this country goes down the tubes. We'll be dealing with low scientific achievements for awhile and coasting along on tech from China instead of homegrown as well. That's if China will even sell to us by the time Trump is gone. We might also be quite broke with the dollar's value tanking.
Even if they deport only 100k, Trump will say it was a million. It’s how he operates, he doesn’t admit he was wrong ever. So it makes no difference how many it actually is, his supporters will “KNOW” it’s a million.
And, you know what burns Felon47? More deportations were done during Obama's first term (8 years post 9/11) and per the interview, Felon47 won't hit those numbers.
If Trump were really concerned about “ordinary hard-working Americans with economic problems,” he would INSTEAD offer us all a $1000 check, with the option that we give the check to ICE to bribe someone to self-deport. I suspect that Trump’s approval rating would go up, but only because almost everyone would keep the money for themselves and not give it to ICE.
"...the size of the undocumented population of 11 to now closer to 15 million people" - where does that number come from? That's a crazy number, and I'm skeptical.
Re ICE agents: these are the cruelest law enforcement. They have no mandate to help people, like the police and the armed services; they are a terror force. Sadists. Although we already have high rates of mass killings, domestic violence and suicide among law enforcement/armed forces trained men, I would warn: look for a spike in a year or two.
During the first rump regime, I had a student in my community college classes who the students and the instructors steered clear of - he had completely dead eyes, and there was something off about him. Once I walked into the classroom to hear him say "and that's the best way to electrocute a puppy." He had served in the military, and his notebooks were covered in drawings of weapons. He also talked about how he was sorry rump hadn't set up concentration camps, because that was his goal - to be a concentration camp guard. I haven't seen him in years, thank goodness, but often wonder if he's working as an ICE agent now.
I know that young man and you are right to steer clear. But on the other hand, and I know we know this: so many fine young people serve in the military and come out weathered but alright. They also learn to love their country in ways that a civics class just doesn't. But these ICE agents, they are not taught about service and compassion for others, they are taught cruel methods and inhuman tactics...on children!!!
Not exactly surprised to learn the blackshirts are having trouble recruiting. While somewhat heartening (there are a LOT of people who just won't do that job), it's also unfortunate, in that it means they'll take ever more unqualified personnel (people who a more restrained system would never have looked twice at due to psychological problems or known association with hate groups) and the problems will just get worse.
This initiative is like putting $1,000 under a box propped up by a stick and hoping migrants take the bait. It's for sure a trap, and it's a cartoonist one, at that.
This is a dangerously silly administration!
What could one possibly expect? This is the Kartoon Klown Krew after all.
Joseph I agree 100%. Plus...why would an immigrant who endangered their life to escape their country want a free ride back to said country? Duh.
It looks like the cost per migrant is around $82K? (3.4 Bn divided by around 41K?) “Congress last year appropriated $3.4 billion for ICE for detention, which it said was enough funding for 41,500 detention beds.” And that doesn’t include forgone revenue from the multiple forms of taxes they could be paying. Brilliant strategy, real Republican fiscal conservatism there.
Politics of hate knows no fiscal responsibility as most of those sought by ICE are brown or black. In my mind that is the regime issue and a not so well hidden tenet of the GOP.
Agreed.
Trump and his crude and cruel offers of a meagre $1000--he can only think in terms of money! The last paragraph sums up what seems obvious to any thinking person:
"you might have a lot of those people say I don't trust the government, and so I'm not going to come forward and put my name on a list if they didn't know I was already in the country. Maybe I can just leave and stay off the radar, rather than self-report and come forward."
They've been here long enough to know that Trump lies rather than tell the truth.
Anyone who pays attention for a little as 5 seconds knows that trump lies as he breathes.
Wonderful explanation of a complex mess. Wouldn't it make so much sense (and save a ton of money) if they just let most of these immigrants (especially those with jobs, families, property) become citizens of our country!
A year ago there was a bipartisan bill to increase staffing at the border, expand detention facilities, and add immigration judges. It was opposed by trump. He wanted it as a campaign issue. The election is over and now he does not want to reform immigration because he just wants to use immigrants as a focus for hate.
Better yet, don't let them become citizens...just ignore them. They buy stuff. They take jobs Americans won't for sub-standard wages. They pay taxes and will never get entitlements. Win-win! /s
Pretty cruel...a little compassion goes a long way my friend ❤️
You didn't take me seriously, did you? Isn't that what the /s is for?
I guess I did 😬 Sorry 😞
NP - It sounded pretty harsh when I wrote it.
Yeah, I didn't really thing $1K was very much. You can't even pay rent for that here and I don't think it goes very far in other countries either. On the other hand, not being able to get back to the U.S. could be "meh" terrain if this country goes down the tubes. We'll be dealing with low scientific achievements for awhile and coasting along on tech from China instead of homegrown as well. That's if China will even sell to us by the time Trump is gone. We might also be quite broke with the dollar's value tanking.
I worry about those T-bills. The ones foreign investors used to run to.
Great reporting still not received on nightly news.
Hahahahahahaha! "Still not on the nightly news? Hahahahaha!
In 2024, President Trump campaigned on a pledge of "mass deportation."
It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing. (WS)
Anyone who trusts Don the Con or any of his lackeys to honor a $1000 per person promise is a born fool.
Let's imagine the scene:
Immigrant: Hi, I'm here for my free plane ticket and $1,000 to self-deport.
Official: Sure, just come inside and we'll get right on that...
(Immigrant is immediately arrested and all their possessions are confiscated)
Immigrant: But Donald Trump promised...!
Official: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Call someone who cares! Oh wait, we took your phone. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Even if they deport only 100k, Trump will say it was a million. It’s how he operates, he doesn’t admit he was wrong ever. So it makes no difference how many it actually is, his supporters will “KNOW” it’s a million.
And, you know what burns Felon47? More deportations were done during Obama's first term (8 years post 9/11) and per the interview, Felon47 won't hit those numbers.
If Trump were really concerned about “ordinary hard-working Americans with economic problems,” he would INSTEAD offer us all a $1000 check, with the option that we give the check to ICE to bribe someone to self-deport. I suspect that Trump’s approval rating would go up, but only because almost everyone would keep the money for themselves and not give it to ICE.
Except that neither Musk nor Trump ever pay what they promise.
But it does remind me of 40 acres and a mule. Which was never paid.
"...the size of the undocumented population of 11 to now closer to 15 million people" - where does that number come from? That's a crazy number, and I'm skeptical.
Probably partly calculated from number of expired visas of those who show no record of leaving the country.
So... we're taking money from Seniors, sick children and the Arts to placate tRump's fantasy of zero "others"?
Re ICE agents: these are the cruelest law enforcement. They have no mandate to help people, like the police and the armed services; they are a terror force. Sadists. Although we already have high rates of mass killings, domestic violence and suicide among law enforcement/armed forces trained men, I would warn: look for a spike in a year or two.
During the first rump regime, I had a student in my community college classes who the students and the instructors steered clear of - he had completely dead eyes, and there was something off about him. Once I walked into the classroom to hear him say "and that's the best way to electrocute a puppy." He had served in the military, and his notebooks were covered in drawings of weapons. He also talked about how he was sorry rump hadn't set up concentration camps, because that was his goal - to be a concentration camp guard. I haven't seen him in years, thank goodness, but often wonder if he's working as an ICE agent now.
I know that young man and you are right to steer clear. But on the other hand, and I know we know this: so many fine young people serve in the military and come out weathered but alright. They also learn to love their country in ways that a civics class just doesn't. But these ICE agents, they are not taught about service and compassion for others, they are taught cruel methods and inhuman tactics...on children!!!
Not exactly surprised to learn the blackshirts are having trouble recruiting. While somewhat heartening (there are a LOT of people who just won't do that job), it's also unfortunate, in that it means they'll take ever more unqualified personnel (people who a more restrained system would never have looked twice at due to psychological problems or known association with hate groups) and the problems will just get worse.