I’ve been waiting for the actual “deep state” agencies who’ve already mastered the art of abusing their power to get involved. Who better to counterpunch a fascist than a jackbooted thug?
Every day should be Punch a Nazi Day
And what about a bunch of pissed off CIA agents being decommissioned? That might not go as the Turnip plans. Modern day ronin?
Yeah, upsetting entire groups of professionals who are presumed to be experts on grassy knoll politics and destabilizing governments really seems like an idea that a wiser person would reconsider.
Rhetorically speaking, the “Western hemisphere” of late-20th century discourse largely means western Europe and the Americas, mostly North America, mostly the US and Canada. In other words, wealthy nations of predominantly white people. It’s a problematic expression, to say the least.
(Cf. “the global South” of contemporary discourse, which is kind of the complement but racialized in a different way, in that it seems to exclude most wealthy Asian nations.)
(Disclaimer: I am not a political scientist or commentator.)
(EDIT: typos)
Can we get them to start punching each other?
But the Office of Personnel Management, now being overseen by Elon Musk and his minions, just issued a memo, which was obtained by Mother Jones, to all heads and acting heads of federal agencies asking them to request a change in the status of CIOs from “senior executive service” and “career reserved” to “general.” This means Musk could move to take over the IT of the entire federal government by placing cronies and ideologues into these key posts.
Why would they? He’s already destroying the country for them.
An effort to gain goodwill across the world?
They are segregationists.
Here at the library we’ve had email from our executive director about the ICE situation which include links to the American Library Association’s official recommendations on it. (ALA does not set policy for libraries, but does make recommendations.) Nothing really new in those, but nice to see a confirmation that we’re following “cooperate at the absolute minimum possible” and “make the fuckers follow the law to the letter and document as much as possible when they don’t.” The last one includes stating that you’re releasing records or other material under protest. (Don’t put yourself in danger, but be as much of an impediment as possible.)
Today we received much of the same information from RAILS (Reaching Across Illinois Library System – a regional library system of which we’re a member). In this document was included this section (excerpt):
Can ICE enter our building to conduct a search for illegal immigrants?
Yes, ICE may enter a public library and conduct a search for illegal immigrants. Generally,
ICE should present a search warrant to the library showing their authorization to conduct
the search. However, the majority of a public library will be considered a public place, and
ICE officers have the same rights to enter public places as everyone else does. In fact, ICE
officers are authorized under the Code of Federal Regulations to enter any area of a
business or other activity to which the general public has access without a warrant, consent,
or any particularized suspicion in order to question any person whom the ICE officer
believes to be an undocumented immigrant concerning his or her right to be in the United
States. 8 C.F.R. §287.8(f)(4).It is important to note that prior to the current executive administration taking office, ICE
operated under a 2011 policy titled “Enforcement Actions at or Focused on Sensitive
Locations.” Under that policy, ICE would refrain from conducting arrests, searches,
surveillance, and interviews at or near sensitive locations including, but not limited to (1)
schools, colleges, universities, and other institutions of learning; (2) hospitals; (3) churches,
synagogues, mosques, and other institutions of worship; (4) funerals, weddings, or other
public religious ceremonies; and (5) a site during the occurrence of a public demonstration
such as a rally or march. While public libraries were not expressly included in this list,
given the nature of a public library and its similarities to some of the enumerated locations,
it was likely that libraries would fall under the sensitive locations policy and ICE would
refrain from taking any enforcement actions within a public library.However, the Acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary recently repealed the
> sensitive locations policy. As a result, there are currently no limitations for ICE officials to
> take enforcement action within sensitive locations. The current administration’s policy
repeal is likely to signify an increased presence of ICE officials at sensitive locations,
which might include libraries.As with any contact from law enforcement, a library may want to reach out to its legal
counsel for assistance in determining whether a warrant or court order is required.
NOTE: Emphasis added.
So yes, ICE can enter the building and go to any public area without a warrant. That’s not surprising or unusual, we are a public building, after all. I’m also glad it states that we do not have to let them into staff or other ‘off limits to the public’ areas. In short, nothing wrong with the information being provided by RAILS.
However I am particularly disturbed by the text I marked. These shitbags are now allowed to show up at someone’s funeral?!? At a hospital (presumably where someone is getting treated for something.) Augh! I know it’s just one more line item on a long, long list, but the thought that these people might (will) show up at someone’s moment of grief or a post-surgery recovery room just fills me with a numb rage. If I ever had any doubt about the cruelty being the point, it’s gone now.
Exactly. And, the line inexplicably veers west in the Mediterranean to make all of Africa sit on the east side of it.
“Either way, they’re off the payroll.”
(grimmest /s ever)
And now for something completely different, well, not really.