Eerie Similarities Between ICE & Gestapo
Whenever anyone mentions either Hitler, Nazi Germany, the Gestapo and SS, etc., there are many people who claim to be outraged by the comparison! Some claim doing this is either dishonest, untrue, or an overreaction, while others who have horrible family memories from the Holocaust and associated events, and seem to feel any comparison, in some way, minimizes their loss! Although, one could probably do a thesis on the comparison between President Trump (and some of his closest advisors) and Hitler (and his), the purpose of this article is rather, to consider, examine, review and discuss some eerie, horrific similarities between today’s ICE (and its behavior and actions) and those of the 1930’s/early 1940’s Gestapo and so-called Brown Shirts (used in Nazi Germany to refer to the SA or Sturmabtilung, which was the Nazi Party’s paramilitary organization , often referred to as “Storm Troopers” in England). While this does not necessarily mean ICE is a Nazi group, but — if it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, then . . . . .
Warrantless arrests & searches: We are witnessing what certainly resembles those horrible events from 85–90 years ago! In a democracy, in most cases (unless certain specific conditions exist) a court-issued warrant is required to perform many types of searches, and many arrests. Over and over again, it has been revealed, ICE often uses masks and hoods to cover their face and identity, often not even showing any identification of proof of their authority! When this becomes widespread, no one is safe, because it means we are accepting the concept of a Police State, and accepting the diminishment of basic democratic rights, freedoms and privileges. This is exactly what the Gestapo and the Brownshirts often did, and soon, Nazi Germany and other nations where the Nazis invaded and took control, the reduction in many of these rights. It clearly violate ths concepts such as: No one above the law; equal rights and protections of/from the law/justice; legal protections regarding search and seizure, etc.; human rights; free speech; right to protest/assemble; etc.
Suspending legal rights: Basic democratic concepts and legal rights, such as the right to counsel, being read one’s Miranda rights, imprisonment without court appearance to plea, and/or be read the charges, no steps towards trial, etc., have apparently been suspended for many of those detained by ICE. In some cases, even the right to inform one’s family of where you are being detained, etc., have been eliminated. Some use as an excuse/explanation, this is being done because there is an emergency, where so-called violent, dangerous undocumented individuals, yet the reality is in Trump’s nearly 4 1/2 months im office, there have been fewer deportations than in his predecessor, Joe Biden’s similar period, last year! Dangerous criminals should be deported, but if we suspend habeas corpus and due process, we are violating the basic principles, this nation was founded on!
Concentration camps on foreign soil: If this President studied history, he might not act as he is. One of the darkest stains in US history was the detention camps, in California, where we held Japanese-Americans during World War II. Perhaps, he would have learned from the horrific crimes against humanity during the Holocaust, when anyone who potentially disagreed with the Fuhrer were arrested, and sent to those camps! Perhaps, Donald Trump would take to heart the famous poems from the German cleric, which most of us, refer to as, They came for… When ICE and the DOJ, against court orders, sent people to similar facilities, in El Salvador and other places, without any of the rights or legal protections, it sure seemed like the atrocities from the past!
No habeas corpus: Every true democracy since the Magna Carta (1215) has enshrined and protected the concept and right, referred to as habeas corpus, and its associated due process protections! In the USA, it is enshrined, and clearly state, every individual within this nation (citizen or not) was entitled to these protections. Of course, Nazi Germany did not do so, and now, ICE and Trump’s DOJ, Department of Homeland Security, and State Department seem quite willing to neglect these protections, using the false premise they are only provided to US citizens, even though, the Courts have, thus far, clearly ruled against the Trump government’s approaches.
Little to no government oversight: One of the key components and concepts of our Declaration of Independence and US Constitution is the checks and balances, created by the Balance of Powers. We keep seein what seems like executive overreach, where the President and his minions seem enabled by the SCOTUS Presidential immunity ruling, and Trump appears to feel he is above the law. Tradionally, Presidents have appointed Cabinet members and advisors, who have specific experiences and expertise, to make government agencies operate more smoothly, and in accordance with our traditions, and the greater good. Supposedly, the DOJ and the AG and FBI Director are supposed to be the people’s attorney and law enforcement overlookers, but both Bondi and Patel have been behaving more like Trump’s personal attorney that as AG, and Patel has seemed to simply follow orders without questioning. That’s how Hitler, so quickly gained power and control, and demanded outright loyalty. In our democracy, those in government take an oath to the Constitution, and NOT any President! We are not supposed to allow anything similar to the hateful, obedient, Nazi salute!
All of these behaviors and actions seem to have as a common thread, inducing fear and thus, making blind compliance mandatory!
While only time will tell if we allow ICE to become this generation’s version of the Gestapo and Brown Shirts, many of the steps and actions taken to date, are eerily similar to the horrific days of Nazi Germany! Jews and many others state, Never Again, related to those Nazi atrocities, but we all must remember and learn from what occurred at the onset, and ensure we don’t permit anything, or anyone, using similar tactics, etc.!
Wake up America, and don’t be fooled again. Resist and persist, as if our freedoms, rights and democracy may depend on doing so, because it very-possibly, may!