Trump Admin: Deportations Up, Drug & Gun Busts Down
While politicians grandstand on 'border security,' citing a fabricated crisis, federal agents were effectively pulled off the streets, leaving actual criminal enterprises to flourish. The Independent, referencing a report from TRAC at Syracuse University, notes a dramatic 73% drop in gun seizures by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) in 2017 alone, alongside an 11% dip
in federal drug arrests. It appears the national security threat shifted from illicit firearms and narcotics to families seeking asylum. One might wonder if the 'tough on crime' rhetoric ever applied to actual crime. This re-evaluation of 'danger' aligns perfectly with a historical pattern of weaponizing federal resources not against real threats to public safety, but against politically
convenient targets. The focus on civil immigration violations, (often for individuals working and contributing to the economy) instead of tangible criminal networks, suggests a performative justice designed for headlines, not safety. How many fewer illegal firearms are now on the streets because agents were busy detaining gardeners? It seems 'make America safe again' excluded protection from
anything but imaginary invaders.