Commending the ‘Resistance’: A Chilling Endorsement of Lawlessness or a Media Distraction?
📰 THE STORY: The Hill reports that NYC Council Member Zohran Mamdani 'commended' anti-ICE protestors who blocked federal agents from arresting two individuals in a Manhattan hotel lobby, leading to charges against an agent. The article focuses on the immediate confrontation and political reactions, framing Mamdani's statement as contentious. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context:
The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency, formed in 2003 under the Department of Homeland Security, inherited enforcement tactics from its predecessor, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), which has a long history of aggressive raids and racial profiling. Its creation post-9/11 merged immigration enforcement with national security, leading to increased powers and less
oversight, often targeting marginalized communities with practices reminiscent of historical abuses against non-white populations. The 287(g) program, established in 1996 and expanded by ICE, deputizes local law enforcement to act as immigration agents, blurring lines and fueling distrust between communities and police. Double Standard: When governments or their proxies intervene to stop judicial
processes in alignment with Western interests – for example, the CIA's numerous interventions in Latin American elections or coups like the 1973 overthrow of Chile's democratically elected Allende – it's often framed as 'stabilization' or 'promoting democracy.' Yet, when citizens actively resist enforcement actions perceived as unjust or violent by a powerful federal agency like ICE, it's