As we near Halloween, the nine months into year 2025 has felt more like nine years. President Donald Trump’s policies have caused so much havoc that you could be forgiven if you’ve not kept up with all of it. But there is something that happened a few months back that should not slip through the cracks.
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In April, Rep. Pramila Jayapal submitted a proposal to the House Judiciary Committee that would block ICE agents from using tax dollars to deport U.S. citizens. This was not a controversial proposal and should have sailed through the committee unopposed.
Even if one approves of the Trump administration’s mass deportation policies as it relates to illegal immigrantion, the idea of deporting U.S. citizens should give any thinking person pause. We can have a debate about people who are in the country illegally, but there should be NO debate about folks who are citizens.
Well, that is what common sense would tell you. But good sense is not so common these days.
Republicans, who are the majority on the House Judiciary Committee, promptly voted down her proposal. They did not exactly give ICE agents the authority to deport U.S. Citizens at will, but they paved the way for that behavior if Trump decided to cross the line. (And let’s not forget that President Trump, like Rick James, is a habitual line stepper.)
Rep. Jayapal wasn’t done. She tried again to ensure that taxpayer money was not used to deport U.S. citizens when she introduced H.R. 4456 the “Stop ICE from Kidnapping U.S. Citizens Act” in July if this year. And, of course, she was voted down.
You may be reading this and asking yourself: why does this matter? There is so much going on…why bring this up? Well, I’m happy you asked. Let me put you on game.
When it comes to immigration, President Trump clearly has it out for brown folks. But judging by his behavior and what he said he wants to do, it is reasonable to suspect that that we (Black people) are a close second.
Just consider how he has attacked DEI programs and ousted almost everyone Black he could find that holds a high ranking position in the federal government. Then there are the troops he has sent into Chicago, Memphis and the Nation’s capital. Wanna know what all those cities have in common? They have thriving Black communities.
He has said with his whole chest that that he would love to deport U.S. criminals. And his behavior suggests that he equates cities that have an abundant Black population as inherently criminal.
I know keeping up with everything that the house and the president are doing a lot, but we must remain vigilant and keep a watchful eye. They are laying the groundwork for the Commander in Chief to deport Black folks. We cannot let them do so without a fight.
Straight From 
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