Obama-Era Deportation Machine Haunts Green Card Holder While Media Sidesteps Systemic Cruelty
📰 THE STORY: Newsweek reports on a Green Card holder, Ibrahima Jalloh, seeking release from ICE detention, highlighting his plight and the fact his Green Card was revoked during the Obama administration. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: While Trump’s rhetoric on immigration justly draws criticism, it was the Obama administration that deported more people than any other
presidency in US history, with over 3 million deportations between 2009 and 2016. This included a significant crackdown on individuals with minor offenses or even procedural issues, setting the stage for the current system. Double Standard: News outlets regularly demonize current ICE practices, often attributing their severity solely to the current administration. Yet, the foundations for these
practices, including the aggressive use of detention and deportation for non-violent offenses, were solidified under Obama. The media rarely invokes 'Obama's deportation machine' with the same visceral outrage it reserves for 'Trump's border policies,' despite the quantitative similarity in outcomes. The focus on individual cases, while important, often distracts from the bipartisan continuity of
harsh immigration policy. Follow the Money: The detention and deportation regime is a massive profit center. Private prison corporations like GEO Group and CoreCivic, who manage numerous ICE detention facilities, have seen their stock prices surge with increased enforcement. For example, CoreCivic reported over $1.7 billion in revenue in 2022, a significant portion derived from contracts with ICE.