per bit.ly/30MdtAX by Masha Gessen @mashagessen via @thenewyorker - “Homeland” is an anxious, combative word: it denotes a place under assault, in need of aggressive defense from shape-shifting dangers. (1/7)
The original proposal for the D.H.S. described the agency as “a newgovernment structure to protect against invisible enemies that can strike with a wide variety of weapons”; per bit.ly/30MdtAX by Masha Gessen @mashagessenone (2/7)
One hypothetical example of an invisible enemy was“a non-citizen that intends to enter our nation and attack one of our chemical facilities.” per bit.ly/30MdtAX by Masha Gessen @mashagessenone (3/7)
The nation used to protect itself against other nations and their hostile military forces, per bit.ly/30MdtAX by Masha Gessen @mashagessenone but, now it had to fear individuals. This is the premise on which secret police forces are built. (4/7)
Their stated purpose is to find danger where normal human activity appears to be taking place. per bit.ly/30MdtAX by Masha Gessen @mashagessenone (5/7)
The D.H.S. began with mobilizing against the foreign-born, per bit.ly/30MdtAX by Masha Gessen @mashagessenone via Immigration and Customs Enforcement (which replaced the Immigration and Naturalization Service). (6/7)
The logic of the secret police, however, dictates that it perpetually has to look in new places for threats. per bit.ly/30MdtAX by Masha Gessen @mashagessenone (7/7)
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