ICE Agent Pepper-Sprays Congress, Just Not the One Taking Lobbyist Cash
While Rep. Grijalva (D-AZ) faced an 'aggressive' ICE agent and pepper spray, perhaps the real aggression is less visible. This incident, while concerning for a sitting Congressman, pales in comparison to the documented human rights abuses and lack of accountability regularly visited upon asylum seekers and undocumented individuals by the same agency. The mainstream press, in its focus on the
'Congressman sprayed' headline, often overlooks the pervasive, systematic violence ICE perpetrates daily, typically against those without political power or media access. One might wonder if the same outrage would erupt had the agent merely pepper-sprayed another nameless migrant. The incident reminds us that the state's apparatus, particularly its border security arm, often operates with impunity
until it touches a connected individual. (Maybe next time, ICE can try pepper-spraying some of the pharmaceutical executives jacking up insulin prices?)