Matt Iglesias

I mean, it's what's actually happening is closer to the latter. Right. I mean, in terms of the question of like, what is the quantity of people who are deported? The historic peak for the United States came during Barack Obama's term.

I mean, it's what's actually happening is closer to the latter. Right. I mean, in terms of the question of like, what is the quantity of people who are deported? The historic peak for the United States came during Barack Obama's term.

And the main reason for that, at least as I understand it, is that there was really strong cooperation between ICE and state and local law enforcement officials there. And basically, they were picking people up out of jails all throughout the country, which is a very efficient process.

And the main reason for that, at least as I understand it, is that there was really strong cooperation between ICE and state and local law enforcement officials there. And basically, they were picking people up out of jails all throughout the country, which is a very efficient process.

If you're thinking of deportation as a resource-intensive kind of operation, people who are already in custody are the easiest people to deport. And then numbers started to come down because of policy changes in blue states, then different enforcement priorities, things like that.

If you're thinking of deportation as a resource-intensive kind of operation, people who are already in custody are the easiest people to deport. And then numbers started to come down because of policy changes in blue states, then different enforcement priorities, things like that.

But what Trump at least would like, what real immigration hawks would like to see happen is create harsh day-to-day living conditions for people who are in the country without authorization. Very optimistically, they hope people will self-deport. Beyond that, they just think it's a deterrent.

But what Trump at least would like, what real immigration hawks would like to see happen is create harsh day-to-day living conditions for people who are in the country without authorization. Very optimistically, they hope people will self-deport. Beyond that, they just think it's a deterrent.

Like, people come to the United States without visas because they believe that life as an illegal immigrant in the United States of America will be better there. than their life back at home.

Like, people come to the United States without visas because they believe that life as an illegal immigrant in the United States of America will be better there. than their life back at home.

So if you can make it worse in any number of different ways, including by just raising uncertainty that a person kind of working off the books and minding their own business might get deported, that has a kind of an impact. Like yesterday, I think Tom Honan was on TV and he was like, we arrested 308 people already, which was like, I think the average under Biden was about 310 ice arrests per day.

So if you can make it worse in any number of different ways, including by just raising uncertainty that a person kind of working off the books and minding their own business might get deported, that has a kind of an impact. Like yesterday, I think Tom Honan was on TV and he was like, we arrested 308 people already, which was like, I think the average under Biden was about 310 ice arrests per day.

So there's a certain amount of like we're getting tough theater that is occurring and that will occur. But we don't really know what's going to happen. Right. I mean, we haven't ever seen one. really tough interior enforcement in the United States, both because of the logistics, but also because the politics are tough the more concrete you get. Right now, there's big immigration backlash.

So there's a certain amount of like we're getting tough theater that is occurring and that will occur. But we don't really know what's going to happen. Right. I mean, we haven't ever seen one. really tough interior enforcement in the United States, both because of the logistics, but also because the politics are tough the more concrete you get. Right now, there's big immigration backlash.

And so, like, should we deport everyone? Polls like pretty well. You, you know, go into a restaurant that you like and ICE has like deported the guys washing the dishes and now the restaurant's closed and one of them is married and he's got kids who are American citizens and there's like a sad story in the newspaper.

And so, like, should we deport everyone? Polls like pretty well. You, you know, go into a restaurant that you like and ICE has like deported the guys washing the dishes and now the restaurant's closed and one of them is married and he's got kids who are American citizens and there's like a sad story in the newspaper.

That's where you get into more difficult things and it's why Trump always talks about criminals. Right. Because he's always talking about criminals, criminals, criminals, criminals, which is like, I think, an easy sell. Right. Somebody who, in addition to immigrating illegally, has committed non-immigration crimes. But the impetus behind these orders is to try to say nobody is safe. Right.

That's where you get into more difficult things and it's why Trump always talks about criminals. Right. Because he's always talking about criminals, criminals, criminals, criminals, which is like, I think, an easy sell. Right. Somebody who, in addition to immigrating illegally, has committed non-immigration crimes. But the impetus behind these orders is to try to say nobody is safe. Right.

Like everybody better watch their back.

Like everybody better watch their back.