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Notes -
You presuppose that this is a negative tactic from enemies of the administration, rather than a deliberate effort on the part of the administration to frighten immigrants into leaving on their own. "Jump before I get pushed" is the attitude among a lot of middle class immigrants I know personally.
An occupying army, outnumbered by its enemies, must resort to signal acts of violence and terror to impose its will on the subject population. ICE lacks the manpower to actually deport millions of people, and if they set about deportations in an orderly manner then the majority of immigrants on any given day can feel safe. "Oh, they're going after gang members with multiple convictions, I'm just a regular guy with a DUI, I'll be fine for a while."
If you go after people who are more marginal, then everyone has to be afraid. If you go through random people's phones at the airport, if you deport people for any crime, you strike fear into anyone with a DUI or a drunk and disorderly or a bullshit assault.
The next step then is that population organizing to frustrate the occupier. That seems bad.
#Resistance is over a decade old at this point, so more of 'already costed in.'
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