On April 1, ICE apprehended 47 people — including 9 children — at a birthday party in Dripping Springs, Tex.
The agency’s only disclosure about the raid describes the operation as targeting people believed to be connected to the Tren de Aragua gang. 🧵
The agency’s only disclosure about the raid describes the operation as targeting people believed to be connected to the Tren de Aragua gang. 🧵
2/ While some court documents are sealed, nothing in the public record verifies the gang affiliation DHS cited.
“We’re not told why they took them, and we’re not told where they took them,” a county judge said. “By definition, that’s a kidnapping.”
“We’re not told why they took them, and we’re not told where they took them,” a county judge said. “By definition, that’s a kidnapping.”
3/ He’s not the only one struggling to find answers.
Under Trump 2.0, DHS appointees have eroded civil rights guardrails and encouraged agents to wear masks, all while threatening groups standing in their way of creating an unaccountable police force.
propublica.org/article/trump-…
Under Trump 2.0, DHS appointees have eroded civil rights guardrails and encouraged agents to wear masks, all while threatening groups standing in their way of creating an unaccountable police force.
propublica.org/article/trump-…
4/ With no way to reliably learn DHS agents’ identities, there aren’t many ways to report them for alleged abuse. And the office that would have handled complaints about DHS’ behavior? Dismantled.
propublica.org/article/homela…
propublica.org/article/homela…
5/ Until this administration, DHS' Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties investigated thousands of complaints annually, including allegations of rape and unlawful searches by agents. CRCL would refer egregious conduct to the DOJ.
6/ But when CRCL was gutted in March, that DHS oversight disappeared. What’s left of the office was led, at least for a while, by a 29-year-old White House appointee who helped craft Project 2025.
7/ The White House's removal of guardrails on ICE agents' accountability comes at the same time as the agency is set to receive billions of dollars in additional funds for recruiting and retaining agents.
8/ “Supercharging this law enforcement agency and at the same time you have oversight being eliminated?” said a former DHS official. “This is very scary.”
9/ Michelle Brané, a human rights attorney who directed DHS’ ombudsman office during the Biden administration, said Trump’s adherence to “the authoritarian playbook is not even subtle.”
10/ “ICE, their secret police, is their tool,” Brané said. “Once they have that power, which they have now, there’s nothing stopping them from using it against citizens.”
11/ Tricia McLaughlin, the DHS assistant secretary for public affairs, refuted descriptions of ICE as a secret police force and dismissed concerned experts as “far-left champagne socialists” who haven’t seen ICE enforcement up close.
12/ “When our heroic law enforcement officers conduct operations, they clearly identify themselves as law enforcement,” McLaughlin asserted, “while wearing masks to protect themselves from being targeted by highly sophisticated gangs.”
13/ McLaughlin did not respond to questions about Hays County and other raids where families and attorneys allege a lack of transparency and due process.
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