38 Comments
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Mike Treworgy's avatar

How in hell can any American accept that we are killing people in our streets because of how they look? We have 10s of thousands of people incarcerated in our “detention” camps. Deported X thousands of people.. All with no due process. WTF Evidence is tampered with before medical treatment is given. Then forbid proper investigations. My heart breaks for our country.

Susan C Shea's avatar

The courts are one way, but figuring out how to do more sooner carries the implication of personal risk - everything from citations, to improper arrests, to being murdered oneself. Still, it doesn't excuse looking away. Maybe the most effective way is to drive the message from individual voters to their representatives by many, many, constant communications - the more personal the better - that they MUST unfund every single way that ICE and the now mis-named Border Control (there are no international borders where they rampage most of the time) get their power. Get rid of the detention centers!

Carole Ferguson's avatar

Blatantly, horribly wrong. The dear man was doing what we all want...building houses, supporting his family, being honest and careful. He was here without papers doing real work, treating everyone well. We want him here. No one in this country improves their own life by killing this man. Just rascist, wrong, foolish idiots with a gun. The man with the gun did not make this a better or safer country. ICE is not taking criminals, it is taking men like this.

Gigi's avatar

Is there any legal way to get justice for these murdered people other than the achingly slow judiciary system?

Lock Handley's avatar

Sorry. Have to push back against this. The judicial system is slow because of a thing called "due process," which is embedded in the Constitution.

Elvi's avatar

Due process, like that given to ICE targets?

D Schmitt's avatar

@Elvi, yes the due process failure by ICE is the problem - but, defenders of the Constitution will give ICE defendants due process because this is America.

That is the difference between us.

Bryan Sean McKown's avatar

That is why it is criminal murder, M1

DD's avatar

Are the other passengers/witnesses still being detained? I read ICE was attempting to force them to self deport but haven't caught up since. Thanks for covering this important story - we can't let these killings - murders - become normal.

Gail Talbot's avatar

What bills have been introduced that outline a workable, fair immigration policy? Have they been bipartisan?

The majority of Americans do not want the current system to continue. It represents all Americans as if they are anti black and brown people, which is not true.

ICE is cruel and out of control. something must be done.

Norena Guerard's avatar

Prior to the 2024 election, there was a bipartisan immigration bill working its way through Congress and President Biden was planning to sign it, as I recall. However, the republican nominee didn't like it so the bill was scuttled. So here we are today, with the horrid actions taking place by ICE

Gail Talbot's avatar

I remembered that. However, I wondered if anyone either re-introduced that legislation or used it as a guide to write new legislation?

Norena Guerard's avatar

Nothing as bipartisan as that original. Mostly things more repressive that have no chance of passage, that I know of.

Critical Thinking's avatar

Be prepared for a lot more white Americans to be killed protesting Trumps behavior if the elections don’t go his way!

Carolyn Watanabe's avatar

Is LULAC going file a lawsuit? That seems to be the only to stop this lawlessness.

D Schmitt's avatar

What arguments support the decision by ICE/DOJ not to cooperate with state investigations?

What options does a State have to overcome argument/authority supporting non-cooperation?

What is the status of the non-cooperation issue in Minnesota and Illinois?

How long can ICE/DOJ run out the clock?

And, then we have the less than supreme court as the final backstop of justice. (Yes, sarcasm intended)

Jody's avatar

I’m calling it the Extreme Court.

Kenneth Winterberger's avatar

It is VERY obvious that the US immigration system has been broken for decades. Why doesn't Congress work to fix this problem? Continuing to allow the Executive branch to "enforce" remarkably outdated immigration laws is not right. This "enforcement" is putting immigrants who are trying to navigate the current immigration laws in danger. Is it also detrimental to US security and economy? What is the best way forward?

Mike Treworgy's avatar

True. Don’t forget this whole problem could and should be easily corrected by passing legislation for comprehensive immigration reform. Republicans have refused to even try to fix this for decades.

Phil Adams's avatar

Juan, I know you will bring the murderer(s) to justice!

Sharon Cohen's avatar

Is there a statute of limitations for murder? The list of ice murder suspects keeps growing. This should not go unpunished or be pardoned. What can be done?

Jane Hensley's avatar

No statute of limitations for murder in Texas. Maybe prosecutors could investigate now but wait until the Pardoner-in-Chief is out of office before filing indictments.

Gwendolyn McEwen's avatar

ICE must somehow be reined in and stopped from attacking and killing immigrants--the latest murder was in Maine. The entire ICE thing has already proven to be one of the most heinous facets of this disgusting, dangerous era of Trump and the Roberts Court.

Linda Roberta Hibbs's avatar

This sounds like a good conversation. Thank you, Professor.

Lock Handley's avatar

I am less trustful of AI than practically anybody, but here is what Google's version says about the authority of local prosecutors in Texas:

"In Texas, prosecutorial authority is highly decentralized. Locally elected District Attorneys (DAs) and County Attorneys have the primary, independent power to decide which criminal cases to prosecute. Unlike many other states, these local officials operate within the judicial branch, rather than under a centralized executive authority like a state Attorney General."

So if the DA for Houston or Harris County (believe it's the latter, but haven't checked) goes full-speed-ahead with an investigation of these perpetrators, there would be nothing Greg Abbott, or wharteverMAGA stooge occupies the AG's office, could do stop them. Whoever would win the ensuing confrontation with DHS, the very worst outcome would seem to be to drive up Democratic turnout in November.

Bryan Sean McKown's avatar

YES, the appropriate authority is the latter, Harris County DA.

Steven Erick's avatar

as none of the agents "suspected" of killing possible illegal immigrants have been held to account. Given Texas' penchant toward supporting anything Trump, what is you expectation of assistance from the Texas Attorney General?

Jane Hensley's avatar

Harris County DA can prosecute. Harris County government is not as reactionary as State Government. The DA could face political pressure, but the State does not (yet) have legal authority to stop such a prosecution. Bigger obstacle may be ICE's refusal to cooperate with investigators.

Steven Erick's avatar

Great comment. Thanks for keeping me in line!

Bryan Sean McKown's avatar

Google "AI" search:

"The Harris County District Attorney is SEAN TEARE, who oversees the prosecution of cases across Harris County, Texas. His office, located at 1201 Franklin St., Houston, TX."

Robert Early's avatar

This is heartbreaking and sinful, and one more compelling reason to hope for a massive flip of the House and Senate.