ICE actions are cutting its own throat

The leaders of ICE are cutting their own throat.

Why? Tactics, sometimes unsavory, and now possibly unconstitutional.

President Donald J. Trump’s promise of mass deportation — not just the worst of the worst — has gone from a majority plus before his election (and it was one of the promises that helped elect him) to a majority minus, with 53% saying his actions have gone “too far.” 

And that was before the Associated Press reported on an ICE memo instructing agents — some of them, anyway — to forcibly enter homes even without a judicial warrant, which is a departure from past practice, and a possible violation of the 4th Amendment’s prohibition against unreasonable search and seizure.

This comes on the heels of mistaken arrests of American citizens, unnecessarily strong-arm tactics, the death of Renee Good, and other offensive actions.

The memo was provided by a whistleblower and one aspect caught my attention: The instructions are being given to new ICE hires, and those still in training, as opposed to being shared throughout the force. Why is it not being widely implemented? I don’t know. Perhaps ICE fears veteran agents might start questioning the new rules.

What I do know is that it is one more ill-advised tactic that will turn even more Americans against ICE’s efforts to enforce immigration law. The Constitution applies to ICE.

As I have said before, when enforcing the law, ICE must obey the law. It can’t and must not act as judge, jury and executioner.

I am not for a minute saying ICE should not do its job. What I am saying is that it must color inside the lines, obey all applicable law, and for God’s sake stop creating those awful, hard-ass visuals that have your critics calling you Gestapo.

Apply some common sense and stop cutting your own throat.