America's shameful immigrant detention

The CoreCivic ICE “reception centres” are not new persecution in America. We need to have “the other” in order to feel at least we are better  than they.

The First Nations’ removal to reservations in violation of treaties signed by the US government from 1830 to 1950, the Trail of Tears, saw 60,000 Native Americans relocated with thousands dying from exposure, disease and starvation.

In comparison, the forced death marches from Nazi concentration camps saw 80,000 POWs and at least 56,000 from Auschwitz alone. 10 to 15 million were evacuated from Eastern and Central Europe.

98% of natives lost their ancestral homelands through this displacement. They were here first.

Castle Clinton Emigrant Depot from 1855 to 1890 kept suspect immigrants in detention and those in quarantine in the Marine Hospital on Staten Island. The famous immigrant processing centre, Ellis Island, served as a long-term detention site from the 1890s to 1950s.

From 1901 to 1902, American troops established detention, called reconcentration camps, for Philippines civilians in order to prevent their “corruption” by guerrilla forces, 280,00 in Batangas alone. These resulted in high mortality rates due to disease, starvation and poor sanitation.

Filipino revolutionaries and “irreconcilables” were deported the the US territory Guam.

The First Red Scare in 1919 and 1920 saw more than 10,000 communists, suspected communists and radical leftists detained and deported. These were known as the Palmer Raids led by US Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer and J. FBI instigator Edgar Hoover. Thousands were arrested without warrants this ineligible for bail, no matter how prominent a figure.

The camps deported more than 550 foreign-born radicals and anarchists, mostly Southern and Eastern European immigrants. Notable deportees were anarchist philosophers such as Emma Goldman and Alexander Berkman. Many were shipped to the new Soviet Union on the US Army Transport ship, the USAT Buford, dubbed the Red Ark.

Reds were not the real target of these detentions. These often brutal arrests were intended to instill fear into those Americans opposing military conscription and the US entry into World War I and fledgling trade unionism.

These included Eugene V. Debs, President of the Socialist Party of America and a Presidential candidate in 1900, 1904, 1908, 1912 and 1920 earning 3.4% of the vote.

Debs was a founder of the anarchist union Industrial Workers of the World which advocated sabotage in the workplace to force their demands for better pay and conditions. Debs was a leader in many union strikes and also the US General Strike involving hundreds of thousands of workers.

After serving a sentence for striking in 1895, Debs defied a court injunction against the strike and served six months in the Atlanta Penitentiary, the nation’s hardest maximum security prison.

His second arrest under the Sedition Act of 1918 saw Debs back in Atlanta with a 10-year sentence.  Debs’ Statement to the Court is a patriotic classic relevant today.

His last Presidential run as “For President: Convict No. 9653" was from his prison cell. All inmates were permitted to listen to the radio announcing the results. While in prison, Debs wrote Walls and Bars: Prisons and Prison Life In The "Land Of The Free", published by Socialist Party of America.

Bernie Sanders described Debs as "probably the most effective and popular leader that the American working class has ever had".

From 1942 to 1946, 120,000 Japanese Americans, mostly US citizens, were removed to iWar Relocation Centers, immigration detention centres inland. These remote, isolated camps saw severe deprivation and lack of any due process. The “Japs” could only bring what they could carry. Their land and houses were seized along with their means of making a living such as fishing boats. These were never returned or compensated.

Over 11,000 German Americans and thousands of Italian Americans were also detained in camps under the Enemy Alien Control Program.

These camps were typically surrounded by barbed wire, guard by armed military forces and located in remote, desolate areas.

The Second Red Scare, 1947 to 1957, was a period in anti-communist hysteria when China fell, the Soviets had the bomb, and communist fighters were taking the Korean Peninsula. This unwarranted paranoia was fueled by two men making their political careers, Joseph McCarthy and Pat McCarran.

They sponsored acts in Congress over President Truman’s veto permitting investigations of "unAmerican" Americans. This resulted in blacklisting from many professions and the detention of suspected subversives, "to whom there is a reasonable ground to believe that such person probably will engage in, or probably will conspire with others to engage in, acts of espionage or sabotage." Neither of those probabilities materialised.

The US maintains the world’s largest immigrant detention system. Is this something Americans should be proud of?

From 2020, ICE has 200 detention facilities. In 2023 and 2024, 118,938 unaccompanied immigrant children were being held, often in appalling conditions and kisnapped by racial profiling. These could be your kids. Doesn't this make you ashamed of our government? These are children! By August 2025, 1.6 million undocumented migrants had self-deported under threat of imprisonment.

There will always be “aliens” among us, fleeing war and persecution in their own countries or simply seeking a better life. Why should we not welcome them and absorb them into the fabric of American life.

Few migrants realise they’re coming to a country with the world’s largest prison population per capita, 1,254,200. 33% Black, 31% White, 23% Hispanic. 4% are women. Nearly one per cent of the US population is incarcerated. Does that make you feel good?

The US could absorb, by estimates, 1.5 to 1.6 billion more at European population densities and lower than that of the UK or Japan. Immigrants have proven themselves hard-working and family-centred. immigrants. Almost all become good neighbours to Americans.

At least, ahem, when they’re not eating your cats and dogs.

ICE started off as an agency that was designed to combat overseas terrorism and then morphed into a domestic agency, that is now being used to terrorize American citizens and immigrants alike.

A friend of mine just told me about a friend of hers who was deported to Holland after living in the US for 30 years, he was legal, he had green card status, but they used an excuse that he had divorced his American wife as a reason to deport him to a nation that he had no cultural ties to. He was a hard-working man and he had no criminal background whatsoever, not even a moving violation. Can a single MAGA supporter explain to me what the reasoning was behind that deportation?

Trump's immigration policies have gotten so far out of control, he's lost all Latino support, he's lost support from people all over the world, the US is alienated to a horrendous degree, and I don't even know if ICE understands what their mission is anymore.

If you hire somebody and their sole qualification is being 18 years of age, having a heartbeat and a lot of adrenaline, and you then give them six weeks of poor training and put them out onto the streets with high caliber weapons, what could possibly go wrong?

Attack by deli sandwich. God forbid the agent gets a little mustard on his uniform!

Pretty simply solution to it all ...

... Don't do the crime if you can't do the time.

53 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

There will always be “aliens” among us, fleeing war and persecution in their own countries or simply seeking a better life. Why should we not welcome them and absorb them into the fabric of American life.

I am not a lawyer, but my understanding is these people can apply for asylum and these are not people being targeted by ICE. If people have gone the legal route, ICE will not go after them.

Another thread equating the current situation to Nazi Germany, yet you haven't done basic research and are basing your assumptions on all sorts of false claims.

43 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

ICE started off as an agency that was designed to combat overseas terrorism and then morphed into a domestic agency, that is now being used to terrorize American citizens and immigrants alike.

A friend of mine just told me about a friend of hers who was deported to Holland after living in the US for 30 years, he was legal, he had green card status, but they used an excuse that he had divorced his American wife as a reason to deport him to a nation that he had no cultural ties to. He was a hard-working man and he had no criminal background whatsoever, not even a moving violation. Can a single MAGA supporter explain to me what the reasoning was behind that deportation?

Trump's immigration policies have gotten so far out of control, he's lost all Latino support, he's lost support from people all over the world, the US is alienated to a horrendous degree, and I don't even know if ICE understands what their mission is anymore.

If you hire somebody and their sole qualification is being 18 years of age, having a heartbeat and a lot of adrenaline, and you then give them six weeks of poor training and put them out onto the streets with high caliber weapons, what could possibly go wrong?

Attack by deli sandwich. God forbid the agent gets a little mustard on his uniform!

Perhaps your friend should have applied for citizenship during those 30 years...

29 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

I am not a lawyer, but my understanding is these people can apply for asylum and these are not people being targeted by ICE. If people have gone the legal route, ICE will not go after them.

Another thread equating the current situation to Nazi Germany, yet you haven't done basic research and are basing your assumptions on all sorts of false claims.

To any objective observer, it's clear is targeting non whites. The stated goal of going after illegal criminals is not being observed.

The upshot of this topic is the USA is the most evil nation ever to exist on earth. Got it.

1 minute ago, stevenl said:

To any objective observer, it's clear is targeting non whites. The stated goal of going after illegal criminals is not being observed.

Nah, it's just mathematical probability that the illegals are from non-white countries.

Even though the UK sucks, no one from the UK appears to be entering the US illegally. They just tolerate the bad weather and wait for retirement to escape to Thailand.

31 minutes ago, Hanaguma said:

Perhaps your friend should have applied for citizenship during those 30 years...

Yep, just think if folks followed the rules, then they wouldn't achieve 'criminal' status. Could have applied for a waiver over 28 yrs ago ... oops

I wonder what would happen ( I know ), if I got divorced while on marriage visa, and didn't update TH Imm or renew my visa ext ?

I'm sure they'd let me just stay, no prob ... right ?

A friend of a friend, based on 30 ish yr info .... classic stuff

6 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

The upshot of this topic is the USA is the most evil nation ever to exist on earth. Got it.

Yea, hideous place, and why million enter every year ... or use to illegally.

1 hour ago, KhunLA said:

Yea, hideous place, and why million enter every year ... or use to illegally.

"Bernie Sanders described Debs as "probably the most effective and popular leader that the American working class has ever had"

Bernie Sanders has been described by Bill Clintons war room chief James Carville as a communist! Also can you imagine a GOP member going to the Soviet Union in 1988 or anytime to establish a sister city in the states.

https://thehill.com/homenews/media/483054-carville-fires-back-at-sanders-for-hack-slam-at-least-im-not-a-communist/

3 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Yea, hideous place, and why million enter every year ... or use to illegally.

Yeah, so awful, hideous, evil and racist that Chicom cadre and billionaires do birth tourism into the "Beautiful Country" or "Golden Land" as they call it.

You've obviously never have seen the inside of a Thai Immigration Detention Center. I had a good friend end up in one. I'd rather be in a US immigration detention center anyday of the week.

16 hours ago, Hanaguma said:

Perhaps your friend should have applied for citizenship during those 30 years...

While that would have been a good idea, you're simply engaging in deflection at this point, and avoiding the topic at hand.

11 hours ago, connda said:

You've obviously never have seen the inside of a Thai Immigration Detention Center. I had a good friend end up in one. I'd rather be in a US immigration detention center anyday of the week.

Which is relevant how?

16 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Pretty simply solution to it all ...

... Don't do the crime if you can't do the time.

"The crime"?!? This reminds me of Checkpoint Charlie or Soviet Russia: "Papers, please." Lock you up if you don't have them. Is this really the way you want America to be, where not having the right papers becomes a "crime"? Not me.

2 hours ago, unblocktheplanet said:

"The crime"?!? This reminds me of Checkpoint Charlie or Soviet Russia: "Papers, please." Lock you up if you don't have them. Is this really the way you want America to be, where not having the right papers becomes a "crime"? Not me.

Not having the right papers, is not, and never will be a crime. Havin ID is required in many situations, and if a question about your legality, or suspicion of being a criminal, or act of committing a crime, then before released into the general public, for the public's safety, one's ID needs to be established.

Do you want, suspected or wanted criminals walking around your neighborhood ... I don't.

I used to get profiled all the time ... bastards

I'd like to open an account, make a deposit ...

... papers please

I'd like to register for school / uni...

... papers please

I'd like to apply for a job ...

... papers please

I'd like a driver's license ...

... papers please

I need to see a doctor, and get this checked out ...

... papers please

I'd like to get a marriage license ...

... papers please

I'd like to buy some alcohol & cigs ...

... ... papers please

I'd like to enter the USA, I'm a US Citizen ...

... papers please

I'd like to vote today ...

... papers please

Oh wait, you're undocumented and no ID, no prob, and remember, you're in a Blue state, and we give you free sh!t.

19 hours ago, Yagoda said:

The upshot of this topic is the USA is the most evil nation ever to exist on earth. Got it.

Not the USA at all, just the animal thats running the place.

30 minutes ago, theshu25 said:

Not the USA at all, just the animal thats running the place.

So you are saying once Trump is gone, no one will have a problem with the USA again? Got it.

20 hours ago, stevenl said:

To any objective observer, it's clear is targeting non whites. The stated goal of going after illegal criminals is not being observed.

Oh don't be prejudice in your post please , they are targeting people of all nationalities,faiths and diversity

1 hour ago, theshu25 said:

Not the USA at all, just the animal thats running the place.

So you support more illegal immigration into America so these people can be used and manipulated by the capitalists who run businesses and pay low cash wages ,putting these people in sweatshops sewing for $2 an hour

Deplorable !!!!!!!!!!

21 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Pretty simply solution to it all ...

... Don't do the crime if you can't do the time.

Please elaborate on the crime you believe is/was committed by immigrants 🙏

8 minutes ago, mikebike said:

Please elaborate on the crime you believe is/was committed by immigrants 🙏

Are they not illegal in the USA?

Isn't that a crime

So if I went to America and stayed ...without a visa ,is that not a crime ?

Of course you will say it's a crime because you have chosen to be prejudice against Australians

24 minutes ago, mikebike said:

Please elaborate on the crime you believe is/was committed by immigrants 🙏

answered too many times, if an illegal alien, for what ever reason ... nuff said

ICE has administrative or judicial warrants for their arrest. They violated some law, or condition of their stay, if simply not showing up to finish their due process for entry. You expect me to know every law violated or crime committed. What else do you need to know ?

What crimes do you think they didn't commit ?

21 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

answered too many times, if an illegal alien, for what ever reason ... nuff said

ICE has administrative or judicial warrants for their arrest. They violated some law, or condition of their stay, if simply not showing up to finish their due process for entry. You expect me to know every law violated or crime committed. What else do you need to know ?

What crimes do you think they didn't commit ?

I'm saying relying on just the law means no compassion, no humanity for one's individual circumstances as a productive member of the American community. Do we really want to toss these people aside because of the law?

If you follow ICE home invasions, few have administrative or judicial warrants before applying the battering ram.

28 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

I'm saying relying on just the law means no compassion, no humanity for one's individual circumstances as a productive member of the American community. Do we really want to toss these people aside because of the law?

If you follow ICE home invasions, few have administrative or judicial warrants before applying the battering ram.

You decided they're all productive members of society, have you.

What next, you decide they were all law abiding illegal aliens ?

There are laws, and legal due processes to enter and remain in the USA, LEGALLY. Since they, ICE, have warrants for their arrest, I'm guessing the ignore all those laws, that most other folks abide by.

DEPORT 'EM ALL

I have to follow and abide by the ones in TH for me to remain, as do all people in all countries, that they live in. First one, is entering LEGALLY.

You have a nice day. Repeat & rinse with someone else. My post count is embarrassing high already, for just these kind of replies.

1 hour ago, unblocktheplanet said:

'm saying relying on just the law means no compassion, no humanity for one's individual circumstances as a productive member of the American community. Do we really want to toss these people aside because of the law?

Change the law. They criminal alien apologists should have done it when Obama and the Dems were in charge.

Oh, never mind, he was too busy deporting. That was OK until Trump took over, then it was inhumane.

On 2/7/2026 at 2:58 PM, spidermike007 said:

A friend of mine just told me about a friend of hers who was deported to Holland after living in the US for 30 years, he was legal, he had green card status, but they used an excuse that he had divorced his American wife as a reason to deport him to a nation that he had no cultural ties to. He was a hard-working man and he had no criminal background whatsoever, not even a moving violation. Can a single MAGA supporter explain to me what the reasoning was behind that deportation?

Can you give us more facts about this horror story you got from a friend who got it from a friend?

Oh wait, you conveniently ignore questions especially when reality bites.

1 hour ago, KhunLA said:

You decided they're all productive members of society, have you.

What next, you decide they were all law abiding illegal aliens ?

There are laws, and legal due processes to enter and remain in the USA, LEGALLY. Since they, ICE, have warrants for their arrest, I'm guessing the ignore all those laws, that most other folks abide by.

DEPORT 'EM ALL

I have to follow and abide by the ones in TH for me to remain, as do all people in all countries, that they live in. First one, is entering LEGALLY.

You have a nice day. Repeat & rinse with someone else. My post count is embarrassing high already, for just these kind of replies.

Sorry, Bud. ICE has no warrants! Having a job for years or decades, kids going to school, no arrest record makes for a productive member of society. Many Americans couldn't meet that bar. You will NEVER find any undocumented on welfare.

Yeah, the law is the law. Let's think about the intention of the law. Surely it was not intended to "DEPORT 'EM ALL"!

Don't want to read what I post, don't So sorry to increase your post count. You may have better things to do.

1 minute ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Sorry, Bud. ICE has no warrants!

Why so I bother