,
10 tweets,
2 min read
Read on Twitter
THREAD on what to expect tomorrow. (still on vacay but short interruption given the WH move). I do this mostly for reporters and advocates who will face a confusing (and morally vacuous) day tomorrow.1/
This arrest and deportation action Sunday IS NOT A RAID as we understand it; those are no notice events (commonly known as "general raids."). Trump and DHS have already told us what they are going to do and, importantly, the intended targets know who they are. 2/
These 2-3000 targets (not millions as Trump promises his base) are either under a final order of removal or have been notified that they must remove themselves. They have (likely) missed immigration court dates. It's a known group. 3/
The desire to do this is not for enforcement purposes, but for optics. That DHS Secretary is squirmy about it doesn't make me shed a tear, but this is -- in wonkish terms -- a reprioritization of enforcement actions from focusing on criminals to focusing on families. 4/
In the scheme of things, its a totally inane use of resources (I'll refrain from moral outrage) and does not in any way change or alter the magnitude of failures of enforcement on the doorstep of the Trump WH. It is for show, but it is not unlawful. 5/
The show has 3 pieces: 1: the Trump WH likely wants local law enforcement to refrain from supporting (or more scary counter) ICE enforcement efforts. These are Dem mayors in these cities. It's a trap and Dem mayors need to focus on the prioritization issue, not enforcement. 6/
2: They want to scare all immigrant communities with words like "raid" and "roundup," though other immigrants in process are not at greater likelihood to face anything on Sunday; they will feel differently because that's what WH wants them to feel and 7/
3: You'll hear that the Obama Administration did same (the favorite of the WH when they have no defense for an action). It is a lie. Obama consistently focused on enforcement efforts that targeted criminals; if that overlapped with family deportation orders, it was coincidence.8/
It is important that WH be pressed less on whether they can do this (they can), but why Trump -- who equates immigration with criminals -- would not focus on criminals. DHS can't get out of defending this by simply clamoring for more resources. It's not a resource issue. 9/
While I understand the emotions about tomorrow, the substantive issue is really one of priorities. Why would a WH facing the kind of immigration issues it has focus lawful removal efforts on non-criminals? We know why. Report it that way. 10/10
