ICE, which began violently deporting illegal immigrants after Trump took office, referring to them in a dehumanising manner as "illegal aliens," resembles in its approach the secret police of Nazi Germany. Inhumane treatment, deportations to labor camps in South America, and unexplained deaths. This is the reality in the US. Since September last year, more than 20 people have died following raids by the immigration authorities. Some in hospitals, others in detention centres.
The inhumane approach of ICE agents violates pretty much every human rights convention. But human rights clearly mean nothing to Trump, and the idea of "pure American democracy" is melting like an ice cream in the summer sun. The US political system is transforming in front of our eyes, and it's unclear whether it's even possible to reverse the situation. Because this isn't just a problem of the current administration, but a sign of global decline of our society. Racism, bigotry and violence are being normalised once again. Unsuccessful approaches from the liberal politicians aid the extremist views of some Christian nationalists, who would gladly return to medieval times, when the Church was the most powerful institution in the western world.
But it’s not the religion that is here to blame. It is the blind nationalism that seems to have re-emerged in recent times. Nationalism as we know it today isn’t anything more than a political doctrine artificially constructed by the powerful in 18th century Europe. The elites needed a good reason, a good excuse, to control the masses and achieve their political goals. And that’s when the idea of national identity began to form. Because what sounds better than having thousands or even millions of “brothers and sisters” bound by blood, history, and culture? These lonely individuals suddenly became part of a bigger group. A group of people who they could relate to, a community which gave them the sense of belonging. Needless to say, even with consideration of its positives, this way of thinking causes more harm than good. It creates a false “us or them” narrative, which was, and unfortunately still is, being exploited by the powerful. These narratives fuel the hate of common folk, who then go and support the atrocities committed by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the name of protecting the ,,real American identity”.
When such trends start to resurface, the line between liberal democracy and fascist state begins to blur. There will always be those who stand against the system, but it’s only when people like this become nothing more than expendable casualties you realise how far the things have gone. It’s when the state sees its own citizens as its enemy. When you stand against injustice and find yourself face to face with the governing body. When it is seen as acceptable for the innocent to die. Renee Nicole Good was one of those inevitable losses of this fight. An ICE agent brutally murdered an ordinary woman because she opposed his actions. Rather than facing repercussions, he is protected by those in power. When even the Vice President of the United States falsely proclaims ICE agents are “protected by absolute immunity”, you see the rule of law slowly fading away.
Who can protect you, if the law is there for the powerful to play with? There is a video footage from the incident, yet we hear Trump administration officials describing the murder as “an act of self-defence against a domestic terrorist”. As surreal as it sounds, many are voicing their approval for such actions. It is, after all, the story of many totalitarian regimes that were ignited by the will of the people. That people should learn from history? That's just wishful thinking. History repeats itself, each time in a different disguise.
This may make you disillusioned and I don’t blame you. What we’re seeing here is the rise of authoritarian tendencies in a country that should be the symbol of democracy, the (self-proclaimed) protector of western values. A country that was built on blood, sweat and tears of their ancestors who fought for freedom, for liberty. Yet it is still only us, the people, who can put an end to this. Whether that happens before an even greater tragedy unfolds depends on each of us. That’s the weight we all have to carry on our shoulders.
