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‘Like Amazon Prime but with human beings’: inside Trump’s deportation machine

by The Guardian

Today in Focus

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Today in Focus

This episode is titled:

‘Like Amazon Prime but with human beings’: inside Trump’s deportation machine

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Notable Quotes

"What makes it unique is the fact that it opens onto the tarmac of this airport, giving ICE a real ability to kind of move people into detention and then get them deported either very quickly or in a way that is done with a lot of secrecy."
"I think that they are being purposely cruel to people in order to get them to give up their due process rights."
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Episode Summary

This episode of The Guardian's podcast explores the complexities and realities of deportation practices under the Trump administration, specifically looking at the Alexandria Airport in Louisiana, which has become a significant center for ICE, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, to carry out deportations. The episode features insights from Oliver Loughlin and immigration reporter Manvi Singh, discussing how the Trump administration has given unprecedented powers to ICE to deport individuals efficiently and quietly.

Loughlin shares his experience of witnessing deportation flights at Alexandria Airport, where detainees were being loaded onto planes while golfers carried on unaware. This stark contrast highlighted the troubling reality of the current immigration system in the United States. Singh explains that a data leak revealed details of deportation flights operated by Global Crossing Airlines for ICE, showing how thousands of immigrants were shuffled between detention centers across the country before final removal.

The discussion delves into specific stories of individuals who have been caught up in these ICE operations, reflecting on cases like that of Baddha Khan Suri, who was targeted for his political views. The podcast further reveals that nearly a thousand children were taken on deportation flights recently, and many were separated from parents under coercive circumstances.

Legal experts weigh in on the difficulties attorneys face when representing clients caught in these operations, as ICE often relocates detainees without informing their families or legal teams. This situation reflects a broader pattern of systemic obfuscation and inadequate legal processes that have emerged during the current administration, painting a troubling picture of immigration enforcement in America.

Key Takeaways

  • ICE's activities at Alexandria Airport illustrate the rapid and often secretive deportation practices that have intensified under Trump.
  • Personal testimonies reveal the traumatic experiences of detainees and their struggles with the legal system.
  • The deportation policies affect not only undocumented immigrants but also their families, leading to separation and fear of loss.

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