I would think that even modest policing of the most egregious offenders would put a damper on these roving bands of thugs. If these mercenaries risk spending time in jail, even overnight, I think the bounties they have been offered would seem less attractive.
We're fast approaching "reign of terror" appearances, just wait until they get their additional budget and mass hire thousands of even less qualified "agents." It's only going to get worse and anything to stop the brutality would be welcome.
ICE thugs behaving less like thugs because they fear they may end up charged under state laws and won't be protected by the highly politicized DOJ? I'll believe it when I see it. Let's not forget some people ENJOY acting like thugs and the short term thrill of such actions can outweigh decision making even if it has likely long term legal problems. That's why so many criminals exist- especially the all too common repeat offenders.
The statute of limitations on most federal crimes is five years.
Undoubtedly, these ICE thugs have been told "don't worry about anything" because His Orangeness or Vance will be POTUS in five years. That's a dubious assertion, and one which is likely going to result in some of these people getting locked up in 2029-2030. So, in addition to being thugs, these people aren't very bright. Even if DOJ attempts to craft some sort of policy legitimizing or even outright ordering criminal behavior, "I was just following orders" isn't a defense. These thugs are also the "low hanging fruit" a rebuilt DOJ can prosecute as they build more complicated cases against other more senior Trumpist criminals.
David, your essay is very timely.and accurate to the history and the law. There is a very recent development that might merit some discussion. A California small town leader seemingly called upon local gangs to impede ICE activities. Incitement to violence? Protected free speech? Did the vice mayor commit a crime? If so, who prosecutes?
We face the Big Beautiful Bill in Congress. We need to let each of our representatives and senators know we oppose a vote for this bill (in any of its forms with the 2017 tax cut). Let them know that you will not ever get over it if they vote for the bill.
States protecting their rights - even on federal “policing” - sounds like we’re Great Again … with a re-segregated South and ski masks instead of hoods.
I wonder how these ICE agents would feel if some gang of thugs pounced on them when they got out of their vehicle in front of their home after work, knocked them down, punched them, hauled them off to an empty barn in the country and left the their bound and gagged for a day. Maybe THEN they would care about due process in America.
Hypothetically, a group of us should cosplay as ICE agents and find out what they think about being manhandled and detained while they insist on their innocence because they are "one of us." Hypothetically.
What happened to the bystanders who were filming who were detained? Were they removed to detention facilities in any of these cases? Are US citizens being disappeared? I assume that if footage has been made public that they were manhandled, questioned and released but have there been other who were not let go? How would we even know?
I would think that even modest policing of the most egregious offenders would put a damper on these roving bands of thugs. If these mercenaries risk spending time in jail, even overnight, I think the bounties they have been offered would seem less attractive.
We're fast approaching "reign of terror" appearances, just wait until they get their additional budget and mass hire thousands of even less qualified "agents." It's only going to get worse and anything to stop the brutality would be welcome.
ICE thugs behaving less like thugs because they fear they may end up charged under state laws and won't be protected by the highly politicized DOJ? I'll believe it when I see it. Let's not forget some people ENJOY acting like thugs and the short term thrill of such actions can outweigh decision making even if it has likely long term legal problems. That's why so many criminals exist- especially the all too common repeat offenders.
The statute of limitations on most federal crimes is five years.
Undoubtedly, these ICE thugs have been told "don't worry about anything" because His Orangeness or Vance will be POTUS in five years. That's a dubious assertion, and one which is likely going to result in some of these people getting locked up in 2029-2030. So, in addition to being thugs, these people aren't very bright. Even if DOJ attempts to craft some sort of policy legitimizing or even outright ordering criminal behavior, "I was just following orders" isn't a defense. These thugs are also the "low hanging fruit" a rebuilt DOJ can prosecute as they build more complicated cases against other more senior Trumpist criminals.
Masks off, cowards!
David, your essay is very timely.and accurate to the history and the law. There is a very recent development that might merit some discussion. A California small town leader seemingly called upon local gangs to impede ICE activities. Incitement to violence? Protected free speech? Did the vice mayor commit a crime? If so, who prosecutes?
https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/25/us/california-mayor-immigration-
We face the Big Beautiful Bill in Congress. We need to let each of our representatives and senators know we oppose a vote for this bill (in any of its forms with the 2017 tax cut). Let them know that you will not ever get over it if they vote for the bill.
https://hotbuttons.substack.com/p/big-beautiful-bull?r=3m1bs
States protecting their rights - even on federal “policing” - sounds like we’re Great Again … with a re-segregated South and ski masks instead of hoods.
I wonder how these ICE agents would feel if some gang of thugs pounced on them when they got out of their vehicle in front of their home after work, knocked them down, punched them, hauled them off to an empty barn in the country and left the their bound and gagged for a day. Maybe THEN they would care about due process in America.
Hypothetically, a group of us should cosplay as ICE agents and find out what they think about being manhandled and detained while they insist on their innocence because they are "one of us." Hypothetically.
Who are they? Oath Keepers? Proud Boys? January 6th thugs Trump pardoned?
That's why they wear masks -- so they can't be identified and prosecuted by state police agencies.
What happened to the bystanders who were filming who were detained? Were they removed to detention facilities in any of these cases? Are US citizens being disappeared? I assume that if footage has been made public that they were manhandled, questioned and released but have there been other who were not let go? How would we even know?