Trump supporters need to speak out against corruption, inhumanity of this administration, especially ICE tactics

Editor:

When is enough enough?

There are some positive achievements from the current administration like securing the southern border. His supporters will also cite savings from DOGE and gutting the CDC and stopping immunizations as good things and that he is doing exactly what they voted for.

The reality is since the start of President Trump’s second term, we have experienced one self-induced crisis after another. The Qatar free $400 million 747 that will cost another $1 billion to make it Air Force One and then he thinks he going to take it for his Presidential Library, the lack of release of Epstein files, Signal Gate, the government shutdown, and the list goes on.

Aided by his incompetent and unqualified administration members who are not merely minions, but follow a corrupt leader and implement mean, hurtful and unlawful ideas of their own. It is not merely President Trump but most of his administration who help to perpetuate the chaotic environment.

His blatant disregard of the US constitution and the rule of law transcend every aspect of his actions – both domestically and internationally. The list is quite exhaustive and far too many to list in a short opinion piece.

Internationally, he started with a series of on-then-off-again tariffs that punished our closest and longstanding allies as well as perceived enemies. He ordered the military to blow up suspected drug boats without any proof and violating international laws. He failed to acknowledge the genocide in Gaza, bombed Iran, withheld military support to Ukraine, and cancelled programs that feed starving populations around the world.

He abducted the President of Venezuela and by his own admission plans to manage their oil, says the US will run the country but the large American oil companies are reluctant to re-enter Venezuela. He threatens to invade and take Greenland by force which will end the NATO alliance. Forcing our NATO allies to send military force to the island while he places tariffs on those countries.

His actions have cost the American taxpayer hundreds of millions of dollars in military and ICE deployments, personal recreational trips, renaming institutions to name a few.  Domestically he started by pardoning the January 6th insurrectionists and allowing incompetent DOGE to bastardize the Federal government forcing out some of our most valuable experienced Federal employees causing a huge corporate knowledge drain which will take decades to rebuild. DOGE hackers obtained personal data on every American and who knows has access to all this information with no oversight or audit trails.

He withheld funding for scientific research, food aid for children and healthcare for poor Americans while attacking institutions of higher learning and giving $40 billion to Argentina while American farmers suffered under his tariffs. He has the east wing of the White demolished to build a grand ballroom all while circumventing proper historical or congressional oversight.

He weaponized the DOJ against his perceived enemies like Mr. Comey and now the Federal Reserve Chairman who failed to bend to his will. He rewrites historical events at the Smithsonian and puts his name and likeness on everything he touches. He and Hegseth immediately replaced the female Chief of Naval Operations, the female commandant of the US Coast Guard, the black Chief of the Joint Chiefs and forced out other senior officers who were deemed not loyal or the right gender or color for the current administration.

Others resigned rather than follow these incompetent egomaniacs or execute unlawful orders. He deployed the military to American cities. He and his administration contently blame every situation that many in fact are of their own making.

Without question the most damming is the actions of ICE agents. These ICE officers dress like fully combat ready special forces complete with body armor and assault weapons while hiding their identity behind face masks and no observable credentials – all designed to intimidate and terrorize the population. Their ranks have nearly doubled in less than a year and are still growing. Soon if not already Trump will have a heavily equipped private military loyal only to his administration.

The DHS and White House established quotes for apprehensions which by nature drive aberrant behavior as the ICE agents go from targeting the most dangerous illegal undocumented immigrants to grabbing anyone who fit a certain profile and are easy pickings. Adults and children are whisked away placed in detention centers many times lost to family members and some deported to countries not of their origin. Members of Congress are denied access for proper oversight. American citizens are caught up in these raids and now a young mother died because of being shot by an ICE agent.

The President and his administration along with MAGA republicans lie about the incident, refuse local authorities to investigate and try to paint the victim as a domestic terrorist when the multiple video sources prove otherwise. Then to top it off the ICE agent calls the woman he just shot a F-ing b- and calmly walks away from the scene.

They controlled the incident scene and refused to allow the local law enforcement to investigate. Six DOJ prosecutors resigned in protest and that should tell us something. Maybe the officer had some justification for the shooting but without a proper investigation justice cannot be served.

It appears many ICE officers use fear, racial profiling and overly aggressive tactics in their operations but make no mistake President Trump and his corrupt administration condone and encourage this behavior, and he could stop it if he wanted.

Before the current administration ICE officers were properly vetted, trained and presented as official Federal officers without combat gear, assault weapons, or face masks and openly displayed their credentials. There are better, more compassionate, and less dehumanizing ways to accomplish ICE operations.

My question to members of Congress, the Supreme Court and his MAGA supporters, when is enough enough?

James Fraser,

Colonel, USAF retired

Batavia