ICE IS GIVING US THE CREEPS

THE NEW ICE AGE: How Immigration Enforcement Got a Makeover and Why It's Giving Us the Creeps

THE NEW ICE AGE: How Immigration Enforcement Got a Makeover and Why It's Giving Us the Creeps

Let’s talk about ICE, Homeland Security, and the whole immigration enforcement vibe. If you’ve ever felt like the news was giving you dystopian fanfiction, you’re not alone. Comparing ICE and Homeland Security to, say, the Gestapo or the SS might sound like a hot take, but the parallels are hard to unsee. No, we’re not saying they’re the same—obviously, that would be a stretch—but when you start seeing people snatched from their homes, workplaces, or even churches, it’s hard not to feel like we’re living in a Black Mirror episode.

So, what’s going on with immigration enforcement in the U.S., and why does it feel like things are spiraling into a bad reboot of history? Strap in; we’re diving into this mess.

ICE: The New Face of Fear?

Back in the day, law enforcement was about catching the bad guys—or at least that’s what they told us. But now? ICE has turned into this hyper-aggressive force targeting immigrants, most of whom don’t even have criminal records. Imagine being a U.S. citizen, minding your own business, and then suddenly being detained because someone decided you “looked” undocumented. Yeah, that’s happening. A lot.

Take Elzon Lemus, for example. He’s a U.S. citizen who got detained by ICE because, apparently, racial profiling is still a thing in 2025. Or Brian Gavidia and Javier Ramirez, who were also targeted just for existing while Hispanic. And let’s not forget Adrian Martinez, who got slapped with felony charges for stepping in when ICE agents were being shady. It’s giving… unconstitutional.

The “One Big Beautiful Bill” That Isn’t Beautiful at All

Let’s talk about H.R. 1, aka the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” Spoiler alert: it’s not beautiful. This bill is like the ultimate villain origin story for immigration enforcement. It throws billions—yes, billions—of dollars into building walls, hiring more ICE agents, and expanding detention facilities. Oh, and it also adds new fees for immigration applications because apparently being broke is now a crime too.

Here’s the breakdown:

- $60 billion for border security (because walls are apparently still in style).

- $75 billion for ICE to ramp up detention and deportation.

- A 3.5% tax on remittances because why not make life harder for immigrant families?

And just when you thought it couldn’t get worse, the bill also tightens the screws on unaccompanied kids trying to reunite with their families. Like, who hurt these lawmakers?

Private Prisons: The Real Winners Here

If you’re wondering who’s cashing in on all this chaos, it’s private prison companies like CoreCivic and GEO Group. These guys are living their best lives with fat government contracts while detainees are stuck in conditions that sound straight out of a horror movie. Think overcrowding, medical neglect, solitary confinement—basically everything you’d never want to experience.

Fun fact (not really): Nearly 90% of people in ICE custody are held in private detention centers. And these facilities? They’re not even subject to state inspections. So, while taxpayers are footing the bill, private companies are making bank off human suffering. Love that for them (sarcasm fully intended).

Detention Nation: How Did We Get Here?

The U.S. now spends over $3 billion annually on immigration detention. That’s more than some countries’ entire GDPs. And yet, conditions in these facilities are so bad that advocacy groups like the ACLU are constantly filing lawsuits just to get basic rights recognized.

Here are some highlights (or lowlights):

- 23 preventable deaths in ICE custody since 2021.

- A 50% increase in the use of solitary confinement.

- 60% of detainees stuck in mandatory detention without bond hearings.

And let’s not forget the racial disparities—Black immigrants get hit the hardest in this system. It’s almost like systemic racism is alive and well. Shocker.

Operation At Large: When Quotas Rule Everything

If you thought ICE was already out of control, wait until you hear about “Operation At Large.” This is where the Trump administration decided to set quotas for immigration arrests because apparently numbers matter more than people’s lives. They even pulled resources from agencies like the FBI and DEA to help ICE meet these quotas. So now we’ve got fewer people working on actual crimes while ICE focuses on nonviolent immigration cases. Make it make sense.

Birthright Citizenship: The Latest Target

As if all this wasn’t enough, there’s also an ongoing battle over birthright citizenship. Trump’s executive order trying to end it has sparked legal challenges left and right. Advocacy groups argue that this violates the 14th Amendment—you know, the one that guarantees citizenship to anyone born in the U.S.? But hey, who needs constitutional rights when you’ve got executive orders?

Many Americans Says: Enough Is Enough

Here’s the thing: Young people aren’t here for this nonsense. We grew up with social media receipts and a healthy dose of skepticism about authority. We see what’s happening, and we’re not okay with it. Whether it’s protesting outside detention centers or flooding lawmakers’ inboxes with emails, we’re making it clear that this isn’t the America we want.

Because at the end of the day, immigration is about people—real people with dreams, families, and lives that matter just as much as anyone else’s. And if we’re going to claim to be a land of freedom and opportunity, maybe we should start acting like it.

So yeah, ICE might have all the funding and power right now, but history has shown us one thing: movements led by people who care always win in the end. Let’s make sure this is one of those times.

In conclusion? The current state of immigration enforcement isn’t just a policy issue—it’s a moral one. And while it might feel overwhelming to fight against systems this big and broken, remember: every voice counts. So keep speaking up, keep showing up, and don’t let anyone tell you that change isn’t possible. Because if there’s one thing Gen Z knows how to do, it’s disrupt the status quo—and we’re just getting started.

Policy Brief | Snapshot of ICE Detention: Inhumane Conditions and Alarming Expansion - National Immigrant Justice Center https://immigrantjustice.org/research/policy-brief-snapshot-of-ice-detention-inhumane-conditions-and-alarming-expansion/

‘We are not safe in America today:’ These American citizens say they were detained by ICE https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/27/us/american-citizens-detained-ice-immigration

One Big Beautiful Bill Act: Immigration Provisions - National Immigration Forum https://immigrationforum.org/article/one-big-beautiful-bill-act-immigration-provisions/

A sweeping new ICE operation shows how Trump's focus on immigration is reshaping federal law enforcement Members of other agencies are getting detailed to assist ICE, while Justice Department personnel shift to immigration-focused teams and prioritize immigration-related cases. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/ice-operation-trump-focus-immigration-reshape-federal-law-enforcement-rcna193494

Civil Rights Organizations Raise Alarm Over Conditions and Rights Violations at Immigrant Detention Facilities Run by Federal Agencies | American Civil Liberties Union https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/civil-rights-organizations-raise-alarm-over-conditions-and-rights-violations-at-immigrant-detention-facilities-run-by-federal-agencies

ICE holding a record 59,000 immigrant detainees, nearly half with no criminal record, internal data show https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ice-record-59000-immigrant-detainees-half-no-criminal-record/ via @CBSPolitics