Trump Tweets That Democrats Want to Eliminate All Police

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Lately a lot of people have said they are unhappy with the U.S. agency called ICE (which stands for Immigration and Customs Enforcement). This is mainly because President Donald Trump has put ICE in the very difficult position of having to enforce his zero tolerance immigration policy, arresting all adults who cross the U.S. border without proper documentation, and taking away any children who are with them.

People all over the world — including the Pope and the United Nations — have condemned Trump’s actions, and in the United States religious leaders and politicians from both parties have done the same thing.

Yesterday we reported that ICE agents themselves have asked DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen to abolish the agency because the public harassment and bad publicity have hindered their ability to do their jobs.

But in early morning tweets today Trump has started to defend ICE. He wrote:

“The Democrats are making a strong push to abolish ICE, one of the smartest, toughest and most spirited law enforcement groups of men and women that I have ever seen. I have watched ICE liberate towns from the grasp of MS-13 & clean out the toughest of situations. They are great!”

Then he wrote:

“To the great and brave men and women of ICE, do not worry or lose your spirit. You are doing a fantastic job of keeping us safe by eradicating the worst criminal elements. So brave! The radical left Dems want you out. Next it will be all police. Zero chance, It will never happen!”

Donald Trump clearly believes that defending ICE will help him win the political war that is taking place in this country over the issue of immigration. ICE has become a lightning rod and a scapegoat, attracting harsh criticism and being blamed for Trump’s misguided immigration crackdown which has caused thousands of children to be separated from their parents.

Because he is losing the battle for public opinion due to his unpopular policies, Trump is lying about Democrats and implying that they are in favor of crime and lawlessness. He will try to make the midterm elections about law and order while claiming that all immigrants are criminals and members of gangs.

It is true that some Democratic leaders, such as Senators Kamala Harris of California and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, have called for the abolition of ICE. This does not mean of course that they are against the enforcement of the law, and certainly are not for the elimination of “all police.”

Democrats must make clear that they are in favor of law and order while at the same time they believe in human dignity and the humane treatment of those who have come to the United States seeking asylum. They must resist Donald Trump’s attempts to mischaracterize their policies in order to gain political power. They must communicate to the American people that they are on the side of truth and justice and it is Donald Trump and his right-wing policies that are outside the bounds of human decency.

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Leo Vidal

I am a lifelong Democrat with a passion for social justice and progressive issues. I have degrees in writing, economics and law from the University of Iowa.