162 Comments
User's avatar
donna woodward's avatar

We're tolerating the shackling of human beings before flying them to countries they have no connection whatsoever to, countries notorious for the torturous nature of their prisons. What have we come to? Have decency, shame, compassion been completely abandoned?

Lisa Jean Walker's avatar

I believe it is the Supreme Court that allows what you are describing. Heinous policies blessed by the radicals on the Court. THIS is now the United States of America.

CharlesI's avatar

To quote Charles Dickens, "[these) are the worst of times." We have the worst president, the worst, most useless Congress and the worst Supreme Court. It feels as though this could not be happening; that a situation like this cannot happen the United States. Yet, here we are! Waking from this nightmare starts November Third - if people get and vote. This should an easy one. If we all vote this president will be blocked from most of his illegal and corrupt behavior; the Congress will actually do its job in both legislation and oversight and the Supreme Court will be on notice that it is under watch.

Susanna J. Sturgis's avatar

It only "feels as though this could not be happening" if one wasn't paying enough attention -- and it will keep happening if all "we" do is vote in November. Both houses of Congress need an overhaul, and if the Democrats take control of both Senate and House (fingers crossed), we can't just go home and leave it up to them. The Republicans bear much of the responsibility for the current debacle, but the Democratic leadership is seriously compromised by its inaction and its apparent inability to see what's been brewing for years.

Paulette Lincoln-Baker's avatar

Yes. Jeffries and Schumer need to go, for starters.

patricia's avatar

Does anyone have a doctor named bubba ? No, and you never will. America needs skilled workers on every level from all over the world. Large gene pool works best...mutts are better than purebreds. Also, some countries have a 100% literacy rate, America is not one of them...

Becky O A's avatar

love the image of mutts! They are generally healthier and more resilient that purebreds. and purebreads are chosen for traits that may not be survivable.

CE's avatar

Indeed. We should be in the streets, and we’re not.

Punkette's avatar

Many Americans are out there, across the nation, protesting every day on street corners, busy intersections, overpasses, government buildings and ICE facilities. Robert Hubbell posts daily photos in his Today’s Edition Newsletter on Substack. The Resistance is fighting back hard, but is being ignored by the legacy media.

CE's avatar

Agreed, but it isn’t big enough. Seniors on overpasses won’t change things. The demonstrations must be large enough that they cannot be ignored by legacy medians. Thousands in the streets, No Kings on steroids, Vietnam redux.

Punkette's avatar

I stand by what I said above. Every act of resistance, no matter how small, is important. And dissing seniors is unhelpful. At this point, our main job is to get out the vote in November.

donna woodward's avatar

Please don't disparage the seniors who are marching on overpasses. Whenever I've been at a rally most of the resisters are seniors. Where are the young people?

Michael J. Otting's avatar

...with pitchforks and plenty of tar and feathers...then there are always the stocks!

Susanna J. Sturgis's avatar

"Decency, shame, compassion" have always been conditional in this country. Slavery and its re-instatement in the form of Jim Crow are obvious examples, but let's not forget the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II -- and note that Americans of German descent were not so interned.

Janete's avatar

I knew someone whose family immigrated here from Germany just before his birth, and he fought in the Battle of the Bulge - against the Germans.

Hiro's avatar

"What have we come to? Have decency, shame, compassion been completely abandoned?"

We voted for this happening, but have a chance to correct and redeem ourselves this November. We made a mistake but thank that we have chance to correct it.

Hiro's avatar

If enough voters took it their responsibility for what is going on now.

Hari Prasad's avatar

Sadly, to the extent that question is addressed to the US government acting through its president, Cabinet members, other senior officials and ICE, along with the Supreme Court majority which has enabled profiling, the answer is: "YES." When Donald Trump channeled Adolf Hitler's "Mein Kampf" in his 2024 campaign, referring to immigrants as "vermin" contaminating "American blood" (whatever that may be in a land of immigrants), the outlook was clear. As too often, the media and voters discounted the rhetoric, but it was deadly serious, as also the deliberate calumnies spread by the unscrupulous and odious opportunist Vance about Haitian immigrants given asylum in America capturing pet dogs and cats to eat them.

A majority of Americans chose to vote for the Republican candidates for whatever combination of reasons (high prices, aversion to a woman president of color, and resentment of immigrant flows in 2021-24 - according to the exit polls), giving Trump the presidency and control of Congress. The Supreme Court was already in the Republicans' (and in fact, Trump's) pocket. So, yes, if "we" in your question means Americans acting as a majority choosing their government and the government then representing them, then Americans have lost their decency, shame, and compassion. The profits of private prison corporations, the deliberate spectacle of cruelty and oppression as political theater and entertainment, racial hatred, the sadism of bureaucrats and enforcers - these are now in fashion.

donna woodward's avatar

Yes, Hari. Ronald Reagan made greed a respectable value. The current president did the same for cruelty, bigotry and ignorance.

Hari Prasad's avatar

This is the face of America today, as well as the image of shackled, beaten, half-starved detainees and an incoherent, raging president of the republic threatening reporters, Iran, and exulting in grabbing Venezuelan oil.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/elon-musk-alex-gibney-documentary-1236686790/?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us

mary thiel's avatar

And they have three months there before they are sent somewhere else.

donna woodward's avatar

A nightmarish lifetime.

mary thiel's avatar

Very sadistic behavior of the trump regime.

Signe K.'s avatar

Mary, you are so right. It is beyond fascist; beyond authoritarian. Hard to understand the sadism underlying their reprehensible moves, unless they prefer to be hated by nearly everyone in the US and other countries.

Lor's avatar

Horrified by the transgressions of this disgusting regime. We must all fight back and VOTE

Matt Sayler's avatar

I would say the article demonstrates that no, we the people have NOT abandoned these things. The people were sold a lie, and they are not happy about it.

Linda Skinner's avatar

Thank you very much for the updated information. Please keep putting this before us often. I am so heartbroken over the young Haitian boy who committed suicide yesterday, after being bullied when he was forced to wear an ankle monitor. Ankle monitors on children. It doesn’t get much more repulsive than that. So far.

Hiro's avatar

This is a tragedy of our country. We have the government who is willing to oppress the weakest to death. And we voted for it rejecting a black woman who is clearly better qualified as president. This tragegy is on us voters.

Lor's avatar

Unfathomable Linda

Robert Manz's avatar

You are such a steady warrioress. I hope you’re right about coming rejection of these abominations.

LiverpoolFCfan's avatar

"Savvy Democrats should advocate replacing rogue, wildly deceitful, corrupt, and violent agencies (both ICE and Customs and Border Protection) with law-abiding, professional entities that Americans can trust to implement sane policies to protect the border, facilitate legal immigration (i.e., provide an adequate supply of workers), and rationalize our asylum process."

In a perfect world, we could apply that obscenely huge ICE budget fund to hiring asylum judges and lawyers and bureaucrats to process the claims of all the people who have been kidnapped and mistreated by ICE (my housecleaner's husband, for one) so that they can re-enter the country legally and work here while their claims are processed.

Understaffing has always been the Achilles heel of our immigration policy. We can do it better and ensure that we have the right number of immigrants and that every one of them receives due process of law while they're here.

(AND...we could put ICE agents and officials who violated immigrants' rights into those same prison camps where the immigrants are now being held, until we "get around" to scheduling their hearings, tee hee...)

Frank Kuma's avatar

Great idea, keep the Trump prison camps in place for the time being so that there is a horrible place to store all of the ICE goons, Trump and his cabinet, and all of the oligarchs who created and funded this Project 2025 nightmare. A special torture chamber room for Miller and Vought and Musk would be most welcomed.

Irena's avatar

Excellent suggestion: "apply that obscenely huge ICE budget fund to hiring asylum judges and lawyers and bureaucrats to process the claims of all the people who have been kidnapped and mistreated by ICE."

Robert Manz's avatar

Please run for Congress. Restore sanity like this!!

Teresa Dunn's avatar

Omg I love that last part of your plan

Stephen Brady's avatar

This American of Jewish descent has been criticizing Netanyahu's genocide perpetrated against the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank and now in Lebanon since the get go. I wonder sometimes when I will hear 'the knock on the door'? Just as prophesied, Fascism has come to America and it is indeed wrapped in The Flag and holding up a cross.

Frank Kuma's avatar

"Wrapped in the flag and holding up a cross"...... Great line. Trump uses these diversions every day and his drooling unibrow MAGA horde are only too happy to fall for it every time.

Stephen Brady's avatar

It is an old quote probably from 100 years ago - ascribed to a few prominent Americans, but no solid evidence so far for any of them. I've always thought it was HL Mencken but no proof there.

Robot Bender's avatar

Sinclair Lewis, I've been told.

Stephen Brady's avatar

So far, no identifiable attribution. My HS Civics teacher quoted it 51 years ago, as belonging to Mencken, but a number of others have also mentioned it.

Michael J. Otting's avatar

My Sinclair Lewis quote bumper sticker...

Stephen Brady's avatar

But that one doesn't hold up either. It is nonetheless, quite true.

Michael J. Otting's avatar

Maybe so. But his novel, "It Can't Happen Here," gives him the creds no matter who said it.

Irena's avatar

Do you also criticize what Hamas and Hezbollah has been doing against Israel for decades? Remember when Egypt and Jordan et al attacked Israel? And once they stopped attacking, Israel no longer fought against them.

Stephen Brady's avatar

Absolutely, but there is an order of magnitude difference in the number of Israelis killed and the number of Palestinians killed.

Irena's avatar

First Intifada (1987–1993): Characterized by widespread protests, stone-throwing, and armed confrontations against Israeli forces.

Second Intifada (2000–2005): Marked by frequent suicide bombings, shootings, and bus bombings that killed roughly 1,000 Israelis.

Rocket Attacks: Militant groups in Gaza, such as Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, have fired thousands of rockets toward Israeli towns over the years.

October 7, 2023: Hamas led a large-scale cross-border assault into southern Israel, resulting in a major escalation and war.

Stephen Brady's avatar

In my original comment you will notice I called out Netanyahu - not Israel.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeli_casualties_of_war

I am now and always have been pro-Israel, but I am also pro-Palestine. I am a firm believer in the 2-state solution.

James McConnel's avatar

Americans handed over many freedoms and endured many inconveniences on the promise to be protected from external terrorism. Now the Federal agency established for that purpose, DHS, has turned the thrust of that “protection” internally, and uses its own definitions of who is a terrorist to support the political aims of Regime Leader Trump against his enemies. In the meanwhile the organizations facing and protecting against external threats are gutted. This is fascism. The tools were put in place over the years waiting for the hands to pick them up and use them. This is the long game. This is not the end if we fight back.

Kathleen's avatar

Thank you for highlighting this issue. Of all the atrocities this so called administration enacts, what is being done to our neighbors has bothered me most. How will those who have been sent to other countries far and wide ever be reunited with their families or have their cases heard?

Thomas Moore's avatar

I know Dem leaders are making plans for the probability that Trump will try to steal the election. I hope grass roots organizations are doing the same and communicating amongst themselves, but they have to be very careful about it because their communications may be monitored and their leadership infiltrated, and Trump could target them with his goon squads. Americans should be prepared to do more than they have so far, if the need arises. Think of Minneapolis on steroids, everywhere. Meanwhile, the job is to win the elections, kudos to all the volunteers and donors working to make that happen.

Carol Gamm's avatar

Thank you to Jan snd to all. We cannot give up. The treatment of immigrants is horrifying and we can only be frightened about those child detention centers that Trump wants to build. We look more and more like Nazi Germany.

Joseph McPhillips's avatar

When Trump's lackeys try to follow illegal orders to assassinate civilians & prosecute the innocent: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Orvf0Ys8GW8https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U82PEDeYye0 Flawed not perfect Dems are at least an order of magnitude better than Trump & Co. The Golden Age for Trump & Co?

Epic corruption, extortion & rebranding campaigns are endless.

#VoteBlue

Deepak Puri's avatar

Great article. Well done!

Three resources to learn more about the cruelty of ICE:

ICE Hall Of Shame: Parents of sailors serving on USS Abraham Lincoln, babies, pregnant mothers, coaches, vetsm grandmothers detained ...

https://makeitfast.org/ICEhallofshame

Hold Susan Collins accountable for ‘Kavanaugh Stops’ that ICE uses for racist detentions

https://thedemlabs.org/2026/08/19/susan-collins-kavanaugh-stops-ice-racist-detentions/

Sarah Towle author of Crossing the Line shares her findings from on-the-ground investigation of ICE detention and deportation practices.

https://digitalpoliticsradio.com/for-profit-detention-centers-and-the-human-cost-of-us-immigration-policy-with-sarah-towle

Old Yeller's avatar

I find it ironic that the judge you quote has the last name of Wise! This entire apocalyptic ethnic cleansing that has been going on in our country has destroyed the promise of the United States. It has broken my heart. It has killed nocents. I am disgusted at the meanness. The pettiness. The hate. Too many lives have been destroyed. Too many people abused. Too many people killed. I write to my Republican elected representatives and they write me back as if I have no mind. I am so angry.

Signe K.'s avatar

Old Yeller, I totally agree. I also write my worthless Senators (R) and House Rep (R) and chastise them. I stopped reading their replies long ago; it’s scripted propaganda straight from Big Brother. However, I do continue sending them emails because I enjoy the thought that I am annoying them with my daily missives. :)

Anne Pierce's avatar

The cruel deportations are yet another way to distract from the Epstein files, not to mention that Trump employed undocumented immigrants for years at his Bedford (NJ) golf course without making any attempt to get them green cards or other legal status.

Judy W.'s avatar

Thing is Trump doesn’t have to deflect from the Epstein files. Everyone, everywhere KNOWS he was a debauched sexual predator for decades. His supporters are not only OK with it, many wish they could be just as morally deviant. It’s a cult. They feel he is entitled to have used the bodies of multiple women and children. After all, to MAGAs women are for servitude. Even female MAGAs believe this way. So at 80 he still has groupies like Natalie Harp! Republicans are NOT the party of family values, but now are the fascist party with the motto of “how low can you go!”

Elvi's avatar

Agree, we all know what a foul creature he is. But who else is being protected by this illegal flouting of the Epstein Files Transparency Act? Billionaires, heads of state, prominent and powerful people?

Judy W.'s avatar

Good point. Obviously Trump’s lying Sec of Commerce and the special agent for both Trump and Melania whose taxpayer funded job was created to keep him happy are both in the Epstein files. Many others have been noted, but again, Republicans who feel these men are entitled do not care. They are deeply against “We the People.”

William Schrader's avatar

Excellent article. The reader can feel your sincere emotional disgust for the republican-fascist party. The statement of fact of white people only need to apply truly is the republican-fascist party. This is the main reason you must abolish and pursue accountability against ice. The republican-fascist party has installed through out our legal enforcement agencies fascist sleepers that must be exposed and removed as soon as possible to prove to the American people that they can have faith in our law enforcement institutions again. There is no rule of law without trusted law enforcement.

Lor's avatar

Don’t forget Charlotte’sville or January 6th

Justin Sayne's avatar

“Trump is badly underwater on immigration,”

Trump is badly underwater on.......Decency, and......Intelligence. He is in WAAAAAY over his head......only fit to be a used car salesman, carnival barker, or.........real estate salesman. But......completely unfit to be in ANY position that requires the occupant to possess even a morsel of common sense and morality.

Steve 218's avatar

In his perpensity to lie, he could be a FauxNoise commentator, save for his lack of photogenic appearance.

Alan Greenstein's avatar

Even if Democrats take control of the House and cut funding for the American Gestapo, Trump will simply reallocate funds (illegally, of course). Who can stop him? Of course his policies are crimes against humanity. Who can stop him? Sadly, no one. He is immune, per the corrupt Supreme Court. Impeachment is the only way, but conviction in the Senate is highly unlikely.

Sandy's avatar

We can stop him. If we have the will to do so. Other countries have found the way to stop autocrats - we can too.

Michael J. Otting's avatar

The praetorian guard put an end to Caligula. The secret service need to do uphold their oaths to defend the Constitution against all enemies both foreign and DOMESTIC! Trump needs to be stopped, but he's just the beginning. Three religious fascists on the supreme court would be next.

What happens in November when the elections get cancelled or corrupted such that the "blue wave" becomes only a runny nose?!

Shall we make cucumber sandwiches to console ourselves?

Steve 218's avatar

Unfortunately, you are correct. Enacting the 25th Amendment against him seems beyond likelihood too.

Diane Doyle's avatar

Is the regime's next step to compare people's skin color to a color palette and those darker than an accepted hue are to be deported? My husband's father, who was 100% Italian, would have likely been considered too dark to stay. He was a very smart engineer who had served our nation in the Navy.