When 'Not Welcome' Needs a History Lesson
Councilor Graham Platner's declaration that 'ICE is not welcome in our communities' (The Hill) sounds like a powerful stance. And indeed, local resistance to federal overreach is a staple of American political theater. But let's not pretend this is a radical break. The same federal apparatus Platner wishes away is meticulously funded, year after year, by the very politicians who often claim to
represent these 'communities.' It's not an invading force; it’s an invited guest, complete with its own budget line item, approved by Washington D.C. While Platner champions a local sentiment, the funding for ICE, its detention centers, and its aggressive tactics is cemented by congressional votes. For example, in 2023, Congress approved a roughly $9.6 billion budget for ICE, part of the
Department of Homeland Security appropriations. This isn't some rogue agency – it's a deeply integrated component of the federal infrastructure, often benefiting from bipartisan support when it comes to enforcement budgets. One might wonder, if ICE is truly 'not welcome,' why do our elected representatives keep sending them the invite in the form of billions of taxpayer dollars?