Last Updated on April 29, 2025 by BVN
S.E. Williams
It’s been nearly two weeks since Delusional Donald further shocked the nation by declaring that he’d asked his attorney general, Pam Bondi, to explore the possibility of deporting American citizens to foreign prisons.
“If it’s a homegrown criminal, I have no problem,” Trump said before ratcheting this threat up with more of his usual rhetoric. “And I’m talking about violent people. I’m talking about really bad people. Really bad people. Every bit as bad as the ones coming in.”
I don’t know how it sounded to most of you in the Black community, but to me it sounded like a dog whistle. It also triggered some thoughts that had originally come to mind when Trump first warned–during the 2024 presidential campaign–of his intentions to deport those in the country without appropriate paperwork and authorization. To me, this bombastic declaration felt unsettling, like a precursor to something else, something more sinister.
Once elected and the mass deportation plan implemented, it created a thin veil to provide plausible cover when the Trump administration began to “accidentally (on purpose)” deport Americans under the guise of first, him/her being undocumented and next, under the guise of him/her being a “dangerous member of a foreign gang. Was Trump merely softening the ground for what was coming next?
Meanwhile, people across the country have taken to the streets in protest, expressing their disagreement and frustration with the way these policies are being administered and the courts have ruled that American citizens removed from the country inappropriately and without Due Process, be returned to the states. Democratic members of Congress continue calling Trump’s actions “pathetic,” “disgusting,” “shocking,” “appalling” and “abhorrent,” but continue playing by the rules of the game. Either they are tone deaf, too ingrained in the good old boys way of playing politics or a more worried about their own political careers to take any kind of extreme action to slow down the president’s actions. Obviously, they are still following an old play book while refusing to acknowledge that Delusional Donald has burned and thrown out the rule book. Meanwhile, the courts continue to rule against the president’s actions to no avail. And despite it all, the president rolls on, acting as if he is impervious to the disapproval expressed by communities across the country, unfazed by the criticism of congressional democrats and indifferent to rulings of the nation’s courts.
In light of this it was not surprising when Trump announced his latest sinister idea—to deport American criminals to a third country for jailing. He made this declaration even as the number of Americans being “accidentally” deported as undocumented or members of violent gangs continues to tick up. First there was one, then two and then three… and we recently learned U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has now deported American children along with their undocumented parent(s) without due process and in spite of family members or loved ones who are willing to care for those children here in the states.
From there, it is not a far leap to imagine who else beyond– the undocumented or members of violent foreign gangs like El Salvador’s MS13 and Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua–might be potential targets for this new aggression? Also, when you add to that the idea that Trump is “disappearing” people out of the country without the due process promised under the U.S. Constitution it is even more concerning. But it doesn’t end there. There is also the reality of at least three American citizens–that we know of–were already mistakenly deported and there seems to be no sense of urgency on the part of the Trump administration to bring them home despite orders from the court. This is certainly a red flag that something is gravely amiss here.
“Within a system which denies the existence of basic human rights, fear tends to be the order of the day. . . A most insidious form of fear is that which masquerades as common sense or even wisdom, condemning as foolish, reckless, insignificant or futile the small, daily acts of courage which help to preserve man’s self-respect and inherent human dignity. It is not easy for a people conditioned by fear under the iron rule of the principle that might is right to free themselves from the enervating miasma of fear. Yet even under the most crushing state machinery courage rises up again and again, for fear is not the natural state of civilized man.”
Aung San Suu Kyi
I am not speaking things into existence, only bringing them more clearly into view in case you have not thought much about it. But when you combine Trump’s rationale for deporting criminals to a foreign jail because they are dangerous gang members and criminals it is not a far reach to say these are both are attributes and stereotypes too often ascribed to Black and brown men.
Add to this the idea that the U.S. is already predicted to be minority white by the 2045 Census, the Brookings Institute reports, and it is easy to see why Trump and his white nationalist supporters are making every effort to keep the number of Black and brown people from entering this country while at the same time working to reduce the count of Black and brown people already here. Trumps latest tactic aimed at sending “so-called” American criminals to a foreign jail makes it easier to see how Black and brown Americans might be accidentally “disappeared.” This works hand in hand with the overheated rhetoric about the nation’s rising crime rate. And yet, crime was down in 2024 and appears to be down again in 2025. But then again, when has the truth mattered when it comes to Trump and his supporters?
Most folks don’t think much about how many Black people may already be on Trump’s radar to be “disappeared” based on his immigration deportation strategy. Nearly one in 10 (4.6 million) Black people in the U.S. today were born in other countries, a 2019 Pew Research Center report noted. This report also predicted that the number of foreign born Blacks is expected to more than double by 2060.
CA Assemblymember Corey Jackson has born witness to Black immigrants striving to enter the country. “The last two years that I’ve gone directly to the border,” he stated, “I’ve seen our brothers and sisters from Haiti at the border, I’ve seen our brothers and sisters from Congo at the border. I’ve seen our brothers and sisters, from all over the world, at the border. We have to make something clear: the future of the Black community in California relies on Black immigrants. Without Black immigrants, our power as Black people will fade away,” Jackson said.
Although officials say it is difficult to determine how many Black people are in the country illegally, the Pew Research chart below provides some indication.
With these numbers in mind, Trump’s deportation strategy, his quest to send American criminals to foreign jails and his disregard for the courts; coupled with the Republican party’s relentless efforts to destroy the 1965 Voting Rights Act, its purging of voting rolls; its implementation of stringent voter ID laws, etc. are all designed to reduced the voting power of Black, (brown and other people of color) are all cowardly efforts to maintain the political status quo.
Trump let us know loud and clear what he thinks about Black countries. He considers them “shit holes.” So, rhetorically speaking, why would we want to believe he thinks any more highly of the Black people in this country who originated from these places.
Last week in a cowardly unsigned order, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled without a final determination that “The Government is directed not to remove any member of the putative class of detainees from the United States until further order of this Court.”
What the Supreme Court ultimately decides regarding Trump’s use of the 1798 Alien Enemies Act is yet to be determined. However, the Supreme Court is the nation’s last best line of defense against a racist, nationalistic, dictatorial-style oligarchy. If it ultimately comes down on the side of Trump, then the citizens of this country may be in real trouble and are actually going to have to figure a way out of this mess of our own making.
Until then, here in the inland region we are fortunate to have some representatives at all levels of government working to inform local immigrants of their rights should they be unfortunate enough to come face to face with ICE. The elected officials who worked in partnership on this effort include U.S. Senator Alex Padilla, Congressman Pete Aguilar, State Senator Sabrina Cervantes, State Senator Eloise Gómez Reyes, Assemblymember Corey Jackson, Assemblymember Robert Garcia, and Assemblymember James Ramos. They hosted a “Know Your Rights Workshop.” The virtual event discussed important ways for the immigrants to stay informed and safe during these unprecedented and ever-changing times.
In addition, the San Bernardino Community Service Center, Inc: advised that if an ICE officer appears at your front door, you are not required to answer it unless they have a search warrant; if an ICE officer tries to talk to you, you have the right to remain silent; it is important that you do not sign any documents that you do no understand; and you also have the right to legal representation. The center further stressed that you must have a contact ready in case of an emergency. They further suggested you can call your consulate, an attorney or a community based organization.
As we reflect on Trump’s latest threat to deport dangerous American criminals, one publication asked whether he is only talking about the 200,000 federal prisoners, the near two million state prisoners, or both? Either way, we know Black and brown people are disproportionately detained in these facilities.
I remain hopeful the Supreme Court will be the ultimate bulwark against Trump’s lawlessness and overreach that it is intended to be. But students of history know that the U.S. Supreme Court has continuously failed this nation with what I consider disastrous results. Here is a brief walk through time of unsavory Supreme Court decisions. In 1857, a decision in Dred Scott v. Sanford upheld slavery; the 1896 decision in Plessy v. Ferguson legitimized segregation; the 1927 Buck v. Bell decision upheld forced sterilization; the 1944 Korematsu v. United States decision upheld the internment of Japanese Americans; and in 2000 the Bush v. Gore handed a questionable presidential election to Republicans and the 2013 Shelby County v. Holder decision that gutted Section 5 of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.
I opened this piece with a quote from the Burmese political activist, Aung San Suu Kyi, and I will close it with more of her wisdom. “My top priority is for people to understand that they have the power to change things themselves.”
Of course, this is just my opinion. I’m keeping it real.
