Thread by @matt_cam

If Trump is able to triple ICE's ground force as planned, lethal force against non-citizens being arrested for *civil immigration violations* is going to become a regular part of American life.

It's also one of the surest signs of fascism I can imagine.
latinorebels.com/2019/09/06/ice…

We know from ICE's own arrest stats that most of their targets have no criminal history beyond driving violations, and are far less likely to own guns than American citizens.

Only one ICE officer has ever been killed on the job... by another ICE officer in a workplace dispute.

It's worth saying as often as possible that ICE is arresting people for civil immigration violations, not criminal offenses. It is both one of the safest law enforcement jobs in the US, and one which has the least actual credible connection to public safety.

The level of offense ICE is enforcing is essentially equivalent to unpaid taxes.

Imagine if the IRS were sending armed agents out to make arrests over taxes, and shooting them if they resisted.

Or if IRS agents had been responsible for this tragedy:

kqed.org/news/11675402/…

Most people assume ICE is arresting people for crimes, because that's (usually) what we expect armed law enforcement officers to be doing. But they're not.

Not that it really matters--we shouldn't be treating criminal suspects that way either--but I do think it's worth knowing.

CORRECTION: not paying your taxes can be a criminal offense, while unlawful presence in the United States is not. It's more like sending armed agents out to arrest people for defaulting on parking tickets