[LiNeXT]

> in that they are engaging in inhumane actions against people at the border

ICE doesn't conduct border operations, that's the domain of Border Patrol. Considering you don't even know this basic fact, what else might you be completely wrong about?

[drewbug01]

I might be wrong about plenty; which is why I asked for some more information (which I’ll note you did not provide).

I’ll also note that you are yourself not accurate in stating that “ICE doesn’t conduct border operations” - in fact, ice.gov/about says specifically:

> The ERO directorate upholds U.S. immigration law at, within, and beyond our borders.

Thus it is not accurate to say that “ICE doesn’t conduct border operations” - they themselves say they do.

I think what you’re trying to do is set up then knock down a straw man: I never said anything about patrolling borders, and I’m well aware that CBP is the agency literally patrolling the border. You picked a specific interpretation of a broad statement in a blatant attempt to make me look dumb, which goes against what HN ostensibly stands for.

[LiNeXT]

> Thus it is not accurate to say that “ICE doesn’t conduct border operations” - they themselves say they do.

OK, I'll bite. You originally stated: "...in that they are engaging in inhumane actions against people at the border. To me, from what I have read, it seems well-documented and supported with a lot of testimony, first-hand accounts, video, and images. Satellite photos, even."

What, exactly, are you referring to? What ICE operations have occurred at the border involving any of the above claims?

> I think what you’re trying to do is set up then knock down a straw man: I never said anything about patrolling borders, and I’m well aware that CBP is the agency literally patrolling the border.

No, I assumed that your reference to "satellite photos" at the border involving ICE is probably wrong considering the border itself isn't really their domain. Whatever the ERO directorate "upholding U.S. immigration law at" the border may mean, it probably doesn't involve any spectacular incidents captured on satellite photos or video. But maybe I'm wrong and you have a source to show me otherwise.

> You picked a specific interpretation of a broad statement in a blatant attempt to make me look dumb, which goes against what HN ostensibly stands for.

Not knowing the exact specificity of what government agency performs what functions in a particular area doesn't imply stupidity; so no, I wasn't attempting to make you look dumb. I was, however, attempting to get you to consider that you could be wrong. [Edit: reading my original comment again, I will concede it was a bit of a smug snipe. Clearly too smug, considering what you found on the ICE about page.]

[drewbug01]

[I have dinner guests and will be busy the remainder of the evening; but I will respond to this tomorrow and compile a list of the things I’m talking about. Don’t want to be a bad host. ]

[LiNeXT]

> I might be wrong about plenty; which is why I asked for some more information (which I’ll note you did not provide).

As to the original request for information, while not unreasonable at all, it would take some time to competently source and present. But I will note that to me it seems obvious that the rhetoric surrounding ICE really only started in earnest after Donald Trump took office. I never observed this level of frothing criticism of that agency under the Obama administration, even though Obama's ICE, by and large, operated exactly the same way.

Do you disagree with this assessment?

[drewbug01]

Criticism certainly increased after Trump became president; and I think that had to do with two things:

1- His administration took a bad situation and made it objectively worse, and people (rightfully) got upset about that. Across all border-related agencies, things seemed to take a nosedive: Obama’s DHS(? ICE? I forget which one specifically) wasn’t in court arguing that they had no legal obligation to provide soap to detainees, for example.

2- People absolutely overlooked a lot of what Obama’s administration did wrong. That’s a fair criticism: I know I personally should have paid more attention.

I think what bothers me about your question is that it seems to imply that one shouldn’t be upset about things because “the other guy did it.” But that doesn’t excuse this administration. And I’m furious that Obama’s administration did similar things, now that I know! And if Obama’s administration were still somehow in charge... I would loudly protest them as well.

It’s wrong, no matter which administration is doing it.