The quiet effort of the Trump administration to free a killer, convicted three times, from incarceration was, seemingly, performed hoping for it to slip under the public’s radar. Its intent was to divert attention away, maintaining focus on deporting individuals without any known criminal charges or convictions. It is often overlooked that local news can serve as a vital source of national news; however, it’s when the national news impacts at the local, and personal, level that the true effect is fully felt.
Let’s consider President Trump’s zealous, or one could argue, overzealous stance on immigration as an example. Trump made a high-profile campaign on his ambition to prevent illegal border crossings, a goal that he has measurably achieved, and to expel immigrants carrying criminal records – a pursuit whose success record remains ambiguous. Reflecting on the actual enactment of Trump’s drive to deport illegal immigrants, it leaves much room for improvement.
Trump’s fervent pursuit to expel undocumented immigrants comes with a significant societal price tag. It disruptively tears families and communities apart, infringes on the civil rights of citizens and those aspiring to citizenship, and imprisons individuals merely on grounds of missing adequate documentation. Additionally, as Trump’s tariff policies put significant sectors of the economy under stress, the ominous deportation of immigrant workers from farms and factories risks food shortages, diminished options, and could force smaller local shops to shut their doors due to depleted supplies.
Recent immigration-related encounters with ICE have been highly prominent in New Jersey, with plans even suggesting using Newark as a prospective detention center. Given New Jersey’s substantial immigrant population — constituting one-fourth of the total populace as per the American Immigration Council’s data — and its identification as a ‘blue’ state, the fact that it has become a target for immigration enforcement is unsurprising. It seems that ICE is on an outrageous mission to fulfill Trump’s thorny resolution to deport a predefined quota of individuals.
Despite substantial investment and practices of questionable ethics employed by anonymous enforcers, Trump’s efforts have not met the expectations he set. His goals remain unmet, compared unfavorably to the numbers achieved by his predecessors, Presidents Obama and Biden, whose policies were guided by defensible standards and rarely garnered undue negative attention.
The deficiency of efficiency in executing Trump’s policies is glaring — not to mention instances of abuse and cruelty. The fear created by Trump’s threats, coupled with a blatant disregard for the dignity of individuals, is palpable. The failure to acknowledge the essential roles that many of those targeted for deportation play in their families, their communities, and their workplaces underscores the incompetence of his administration.
Trump endeavors to reshape America, but this is change that could unsettle many Americans. Consider, for instance, the recent misstep in an exchange deal with Venezuela, involving Americans held captive. Of those involved in the exchange, only eight were designated as ‘wrongfully detained’ by the U.S. State Department. Yet, a previously convicted murderer now freely roams among us, due to this deal which was sanctioned by Trump to swap a select group of individuals wanted by Venezuela.
Is there media coverage? Not as much as one might expect. Here we are witnessing the export of people with no known criminal history while admitting one with a thoroughly documented past of criminality. It seems like an intentional act to stifle this narrative because, truth be told, it’s a bad look.
The Republican administration appears to be avoiding the issue as best it can, in the hope that the scandal dies down. This seems challenging, considering the coverage of Hamid Ortiz’s crime and conviction was extensive in news media, and his information had been public knowledge long before his release. Will Rubio and Trump face the consequences of these actions? It has been made clear that they seek to suppress this story.
The notion of safety through these immigration exchange endeavors is deeply flawed. Consider the case of Hamid Ortiz — his release poses a tangible threat within our border. Among those fearing their safety is a man from Spain who narrowly escaped becoming one of Ortiz’s victims. This man voiced his concerns to Secretary Rubio, stating, ‘If this was an oversight, then please remedy it. It is not only my safety at stake. All Americans are now at risk from a merciless killer who has taken the lives of three innocents.’
The Trump administration’s immigration practices focus on beefing up deportation numbers, even including those in process of pursuing a legal path to citizenship. Advancing this cause, ICE is even targeting people at courthouses, leaving the targeted individuals more vulnerable. The shortage of immigration judges further complicates this process, adding to the struggle of these immigrants.
Regrettably, the Trump administration exhibits apathy towards who gets deported and who is allowed in. Going back to the case of Ortiz, it appears that several individuals within Trump’s administration were aware of his criminal history. The seemingly careless action taken in spite of this knowledge could significantly impact the safety of the population.
In essence, the administration’s carelessness, or perhaps indifference, towards who they deport and who they welcome back raises significant concerns. With regard to the abovementioned case of Ortiz’s release, it was evident that at least some members of the Trump administration were aware of his criminal past. It is imperative we take cognizance of their lack of concern and hold them accountable.
The post Trump Administration’s Negligence: Freeing a Convicted Killer Under the Guise of Immigration Control appeared first on Real News Now.
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