During shutdown, Trump partied and welcomed terror tactics by federal agents
Editor:
While the President hosts lavish, extravagant parties for his Republican enablers with sequined, feathered dancers and a scantily-clad woman dancing in a giant martini glass, his administration is terrorizing immigrants and less affluent communities.
Dayanne Figueroa, a Chicago paralegal, was on her way to get coffee before work on Nov. 4th when masked federal immigration agents crashed into her car, surrounding her with weapons drawn and violently dragged her out of her vehicle by her legs.
Ms. Figueroa, a U.S. citizen, was then detained without a warrant, moved between several undisclosed locations, and not allowed to contact family members or a lawyer. She was later released without charges.
The Chicago Sun-Times reported on Nov 9th that a video shows federal agents driving a black pickup truck, firing pepper spray into the open driver’s window of Rafael Veraza’s vehicle. Mr. Veraza is a U.S. citizen.
The family was shopping for groceries at Sam’s Club in Cicero, a suburb of Chicago. They were on a family shopping trip. In the vehicle was their one-year-old daughter, who was also exposed to the chemical agent.
On Nov. 14th, the Chicago Sun-Times reported that officers of the Chicago Police Department started to secure an area. Federal agents, after being informed that police officers did not have gas masks, used tear gas and other chemical irritants.
According to police sources, the Federal agent’s irresponsible use of chemical irritants sickened much of the district’s tactical team. U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis stated that the way the feds used gas “shocks the conscience.” Furthermore, the judge noted that U.S. Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino admitted he lied under oath. Obviously, the objective is not law enforcement but to create an atmosphere of fear – to terrorize.
A federal immigration agent throws a tear gas canister at protesters on Oct. 14 at 105th Street and Avenue N in East Side. A Chicago police supervisor who did not have a gas mask washes the irritant from his eyes.
This Republican administration refused to use Congressionally approved funds for SNAP and actively voted to cut Medicaid. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) had billions of dollars in contingency funds and other reserves (like the $23 billion in Section 32 funds) available that could have been used to continue the benefits during the shutdown. It was a conscious decision, purposely made to make people suffer.
Multiple federal courts ordered the administration to immediately restore full benefits, ruling that the government was statutorily mandated to use available funds during the emergency. Instead of following the law and court orders, Republicans sought ways to delay and postpone needed food assistance.
In July, Republicans passed their “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” cutting Medicaid by 15% according to KFF. And so, Republicans partied. Spending $20 billion for Argentina, Kristi Noem spent $200 million of taxpayers’ money on two Gulfstream G700 private jets, Kash Patel used an FBI jet for a date to see his girlfriend, and millions more on an unauthorized ballroom.
While the government was shut down, Republican supporters and enablers of Mr. Trump’s campaign of terror and human rights abuses spared no expense to party, dining on dauphinoise, pan-seared scallops, and beef filet on your taxpayer dollars.
William Fine
Brockport
