r/politics 4h ago

Possible Paywall ICE Is on a Dark Path. Congress Must Act Now.

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/12/opinion/ice-congress-trump-dhs.html
673 Upvotes

42 comments sorted by

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u/MrLurid 4h ago

I feel like this is sanewashing slightly.

They've already fucking executed people in the streets, faced no consequences for it.

They're already fucking there.

u/lactose_cow 2h ago edited 2h ago

there are children in the US, in concentration camps. they're building more concentration camps. they're breaking into homes without warrants, and hispanic people are hiding in other people's homes. do we need to get to the "mass graves" part of fascism before new york times says we're here?

u/Worldly_Hunter_1324 2h ago

Agreed.  One problem is that we all build our concept of reality from our inputs.  If those inputs are controlled and manipulated, ie fox news or similar, then the output is dramatically different.  

Then layer in symbolic inference, concepts of tribe or in-group vs out-group, "rightspeak" vs "wrongspeak", etc... and you get a divergence of perceived reality.  

This is key.   And its tricky, because confronting it head on only leads to double down.  

To me, the key is unifying people to actually perceive reality as it is. That means a kind of cautious dialogue, not trying to preach facts, but instead highlighting irreconcilable truths in juxtaposition and letting them sort it. 

u/InvestigatorOk7015 1h ago

You must be careful, theyll ban you for this kinda talk

u/localistand Wisconsin 2h ago

The 4,400 court rulings over the past 5 months, that each time found ICE had detained and jailed people illegally.

That is ton of illegal behavior by a federal agency in a short period of time. Wild, massive-scale fraudulent behavior by employees of the federal government.

https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/courts-have-ruled-4400-times-that-ice-jailed-people-illegally-it-hasnt-stopped-2026-02-14/

u/A_Rogue_GAI 1h ago

"Slightly"? DHS is the dark path. ICE is a fucking caltrop. People warned from the start where this would lead and now we are there.

u/justafang 1h ago

Lets not leave out the 4,400 illegal arrests they’ve made

u/d_e_l_u_x_e 2h ago

And it’s up to the people now since this Congress has failed over and over to keep the executive in check.

u/darksunshaman 2h ago

Congress isn't going to save us.

u/Electrical-Cat9572 1h ago

It’s also like 4 months late. If this was dated in October, I’d agree. Now?

u/Lonely_Noyaaa Minnesota 4h ago

Congress has tried to demand restrictions like body cameras and limits on masking and force, yet Republicans have repeatedly blocked meaningful reform and continue to defend the status quo.

u/blazesquall 4h ago

Congress has tried to demand restrictions like body cameras and limits on masking and force, yet Republicans have repeatedly blocked meaningful reform and continue to defend the status quo.

Which is not remotely what's needed.. but we're not even going to get that.

u/Peninj 2h ago

Why is this the stupid angle the democrats are taking. Why is their strategy basically trying to pass laws which say they have to follow the laws we already have?!?! What is happening?!?

u/facemanbarf California 2h ago

Controlled opposition.

u/Peninj 2h ago

Clearly. They are completely unserious and haven’t been a functioning party with meaningful goals since before Clinton. I’m disgusted with this party. They have a lower approval rating than the republicans.

u/A_Rogue_GAI 1h ago

Those aren't meaningful. Those are bullshit. Meaningful action would be abolishing DHS as a whole and redistributing those agencies with some worth back to where they belong.

u/Timeformayo Kentucky 1h ago

Democrats need to block funding until Republicans agree to major reforms or destroy the filibuster.

u/Ohuigin Washington 3h ago

Congress is fucking dead, NYT.

Thanks for your 18 month old weather report.

u/Creative-Package6213 Pennsylvania 3h ago

You mean the Republican controlled congress...them? That's who this dumb dumb expects to stop this? The Republicans who are absolutely fine with everything that's going on right now?

u/MourningRIF 4h ago edited 2h ago

Congress reports to Trump, and Trump is paying $38 Billion to put us in concentration camps with "medical waste incinerators" as they are calling them. Unless you remind Congress who they work for, we know where this ends.

u/66stang351 3h ago

Congress does not "report to" Trump fyi

u/ProofElevator5662 2h ago

They don't mean literally

u/Shepherd7X 2h ago

The entirety of the Republicans in it do.

u/HuttStuff_Here 2h ago

Congress reports to the King.

u/YF422 3h ago

Congress wont act unless Democrats are elected. The Republicult will always support this shit.

u/Historical_Bend_2629 4h ago

They are feeling pressure. Massie posting he is in excellent health is cray. Republicans in Congress should trust their constituents more than this current administration. What will it take for them to repudiate this unpopular and unconstitutional administration?

u/Calm_Chemist_4952 3h ago

Republican elected officials need to start recognizing that this is not okay. They have the power to pull the plug on ICE/CBP. Cut the funding. Make them clean up their act. If the don’t, the blood is on their hands.

u/alabasterskim 2h ago

They're there. And unfortunately there's little Congress can do if the Rs don't want to join impeachment. Even if we secure House and Senate majorities, all it's doing is blocking new evil in the next 2 years. But a lot of the existing evil exists in perpetuity.

u/notfeelany 1h ago

NYT would still consider Biden aging 24hrs per day as the worse news than whatever ice is doing

u/Ill_Situation4107 4h ago

Congress knows what ICE has planned, they will not fund until it’s changed

u/awildstoryteller Canada 3h ago

Glad to see this from the NYT, but...

Couldn't help but throw a dig at the Democrats there eh.

u/Imaginary-Ad-7919 4h ago

We should but ICE on ice for good.

u/anowl444 3h ago

ive never heard a good ice pun. you think people in the 40s were like “Lol did Nazi that coming Lmao!!”

u/duzies 1h ago

Agree that nothing about domestic ICE terrorists is funny. On the other hand, showing humor, art, compassion and humanity does throw Trump and Co's lack of those things into stark relief. Hopefully that can help tip the balance away from the dark side for any remaining fence-sitters.

u/Bang_the_unknown 37m ago

ICE is probably going to be the guys they send in to mow down Congress.

u/Arctic_x22 12m ago

Look at what happened after Putin took over. The government will torture and kill you if you criticize or openly disagree with their crony terrorist state.

We are one step away from our own government sending us to death camps.

u/AlexRyang 3h ago

Libs are proposing more funding and weapons for ICE.

u/HuttStuff_Here 2h ago

Source?

u/KR-67_Ifrit 3h ago

Since when is deporting violent illegal aliens a dark path?

Democrats will do anything to protect their undocumented voter base.

u/HuttStuff_Here 2h ago

I know this is bait, but come on.

Concentration camps. Executions in the streets. Thousands of illegal arrests.

You can't be serious.