Posts Made By: James Brown

Originally Posted by James Lacey

I wouldn't say the blame lies primarily with Trump; there is plenty of blame to go around, which is closer to what I was saying. I certainly wasn't making excuses for anyone obstructing law enforcement. It's merely hard for me to take complaints about the rapid response networks in Minnesota seriously when there are plenty of examples of the heavy-handed and, in some cases, illegal actions of ICE and federal law enforcement in Minnesota.

In the case of Memphis, though, it may be a Democratic stronghold, but it exists in a sea of Republicanism around it, not much unlike my hometown of Austin, Texas. And their cooperation with ICE was seen mainly as a strategic effort to use federal resources to reduce local crime. Didn't they have some federal funding for local law enforcement that pivoted on their cooperation? In any case, Memphis's politics are entirely different from Minnesota's, so it's no surprise they had a different outcome. If I recall correctly, Austin police are also cooperating with ICE, even though Austin is a liberal enclave deep in the heart of Texas (as they say).

Originally Posted by James Lacey

The left does have an answer for illegal immigration.  What the left would prefer is pathways to legalization (think DACA recipients) that are fair and just, protections for workers who are here legally, alternatives to mass detention centers, and more effective treatment for the root causes of illegal immigration. Really, anything that is more tame and humane than mass deportations achieved by sending thousands of armed, and apparently poorly trained, federal agents into a community to carry out roving stops that amount to little more than racial profiling, now known affectionately as Kavanaugh stops, would be better. What ICE is doing in Minneapolis might be technically legal, but it's also proving pretty awful. For example, ICE agents have stopped enough off-duty Minneapolis police officers now, asking them to prove their citizenship, that Minneapolis police leaders have publicly complained about it.

Originally Posted by Rod Kaufman

Conversely, any meaningful immigration reform was constantly rebuffed by Republicans in congress, even to the point of later sinking Langsford's bipartisan bill on Trump's behest. 

That said, here's what turned out today in Minn in freezing temps, snow and ice with many shutting down their own businesses to do it:
https://www.npr.org/2026/01/23/nx-s1-5686733/minnesotans-day-of-ice-protests

But, anyone who makes the news opposing the administration and ICE is immediately branded a "domestic terrorist" by the likes of Miller, Noem or Bondi...

Originally Posted by James Lacey

CNN's Jake Tapper showed the one video of Alex Pretti getting shot and killed by ICE yesterday, which is the best one I've seen as far as giving a clear view of what happened, and juxtaposed it with what Kristi Noem said about the shooting. It's 100% clear that Noem is straight-up lying about what happened. There is no way to square Noem's description with what you can see for yourself in the video. Stephen Miller also posted on X in response to Amy Klobuchar saying ICE should leave Minnesota because of all the harm they are doing. He called Alex Pretti a domestic terrorist, said he tried to assassinate federal law enforcement, and claimed Klobuchar and the state of Minnesota's entire leadership was fanning the flames of insurrection.

Originally Posted by James Lacey

Regardless of what Biden-Harris did or did not do, what Trump's administration is doing in Minnesota is pretty messed up. Imagine what we are seeing was happening in another country. Imagine their political leaders were talking like Trump, Miller, Noem, Homan, and others, and sending masked paramilitaries into the streets to go door-to-door looking for ethnic and racial minorities so they could arrest and deport them. What would we think of that country and its leaders? We'd think they were at least authoritarian nationalists who were carrying out ethnic cleansing in the name of law enforcement and security. I can't square what ICE is doing in Minnesota with American values. And if ICE is going to go into Philadelphia the same way, as has been rumored, it's really going to be a train wreck. Philadelphia is a majority-minority city with a highly diverse ethnic and racial makeup, and it will not look kindly on masked federal agents roaming its streets and kidnapping its friends, families, and neighbors. Not to mention Philadelphia's long history of major protests against federal actions and policies. It will be quite the show, that's for sure.

Originally Posted by Rod Kaufman

Conversely, any meaningful immigration reform was constantly rebuffed by Republicans in congress, even to the point of later sinking Langsford's bipartisan bill on Trump's behest. 

Originally Posted by Rod Kaufman

Oh, I see, they just can't have whistles or cars...got it!

Originally Posted by David Cotterell

After they removed his gun from the back waistband of his pants. A gun he never wielded. 

They executed him.  In the back of the head.  And 11 more shots.  

Dave

Originally Posted by Jim Moscheck

Can you imagine the outcry if it had been a democrat administration that did this? 2nd amendment? It's only for the right wing I suppose.

Originally Posted by James Lacey

It's just hilarious to hear people like Kash Patel say things like, "Peaceful protestors don't show up to a protest armed." Oh, you mean like Kyle Rittenhouse, or the Jan. 6th rioters who had brass knuckles, bear spray, tasers, knives, and yes, firearms. Those peaceful protestors?