In the aftermath of the tragic events of 9/11, the United States government enacted sweeping measures in the name of national security. Among these measures were the creation of two agencies, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), tasked with protecting the nation from potential terrorist threats. However, as journalist Spencer Ackerman argues, the politics of counterterrorism have led to these agencies becoming something far more sinister – a death squad.
In his recent article for The Intercept, Ackerman delves into the history of ICE and CBP, tracing their transformation from immigration enforcement agencies to powerful tools of the state’s counterterrorism efforts. He highlights how the post-9/11 climate of fear and paranoia allowed these agencies to expand their powers and operate with impunity, leading to grave consequences for immigrants and refugees.
Ackerman points out that the term “terrorist” has become a weapon in the hands of ICE and CBP, allowing them to justify their actions and evade accountability. By labeling immigrants and refugees as potential threats to national security, these agencies have been able to carry out brutal and inhumane tactics, including family separations, detention in inhumane conditions, and even deaths in custody.
One of the most disturbing examples of this is the case of Roxsana Hernandez, a transgender asylum seeker from Honduras who died in ICE custody in 2018. Ackerman reveals how ICE officials ignored her medical needs and subjected her to physical and sexual abuse, all under the guise of “security measures.” Hernandez’s tragic death is just one of many that have occurred in ICE and CBP custody, highlighting the dire consequences of the agencies’ unrestrained power.
Ackerman argues that the politics of counterterrorism have also made these agencies unreformable. Despite numerous reports of human rights abuses and calls for accountability, ICE and CBP continue to operate with little oversight and accountability. Ackerman notes that even the recent calls for abolishing ICE have been met with resistance, as the agency has become deeply entrenched in the fabric of the American government.
Moreover, the post-9/11 climate has also fueled a culture of impunity within these agencies, with officials facing little to no consequences for their actions. Ackerman highlights how ICE and CBP officials have been able to evade prosecution for their crimes, further cementing their power and emboldening them to continue their brutal tactics.
In conclusion, Ackerman’s article sheds light on the dangerous consequences of the politics of counterterrorism and the unchecked power of ICE and CBP. By weaponizing the term “terrorist,” these agencies have been able to operate as a death squad, causing harm and suffering to countless individuals. It is time for the government to acknowledge and address these issues, and for the American people to demand accountability and reform within these agencies. Only then can we truly honor the victims of 9/11 and prevent further tragedies from occurring in the name of national security.
