The Weaponization of "Savagery" as a Policy Justification
CASE A: The Current Framing — 'Savages' and Immigration Enforcement Bad Bunny’s statement, 'We’re not savages,' directly counters a narrative, often implicit, that frames certain migrant populations as inherently unruly, dangerous, or less deserving of fundamental human rights. The term 'savage' functions here as an historical echo, justifying forceful, often violent, state intervention. ICE, as
an enforcement agency, operates within a legal framework that has been increasingly interpreted to permit aggressive detention, deportation, and border management tactics. The agency's budget has consistently increased, reaching $9.2 billion in 2023 (Department of Homeland Security, 2023), reflecting a sustained commitment to these operations, often independent of public sentiment. CASE B:
Historical Precedent — Dehumanization as a Colonial and Imperial Tool The deployment of 'savage' and similar descriptors ('uncivilized,' 'barbaric,' 'primitive') has a clear and documented lineage. During the age of European colonialism, indigenous peoples across the Americas, Africa, and Asia were routinely characterized as 'savages' to legitimize their subjugation, the seizure of their lands,
and the destruction of their cultures. For instance, the 19th-century 'Manifest Destiny' doctrine in the United States, which sanctioned westward expansion, was heavily predicated on the portrayal of Native Americans as uncivilized impediments to 'progress' (Horsman, 1981). This allowed for policies of forced removal, such as the 1830 Indian Removal Act, directly leading to events like the 'Trail