The Trump administration does have a gulag, though. It’s in El Salvador. The administration has already claimed in court that if they send someone there by mistake there is nothing they can do to get them back.
Non-citizens who cross American borders, whether legally or illegally, are clearly at risk if they take actions that criticise th…
The Trump administration does have a gulag, though. It’s in El Salvador. The administration has already claimed in court that if they send someone there by mistake there is nothing they can do to get them back.
Non-citizens who cross American borders, whether legally or illegally, are clearly at risk if they take actions that criticise the Trump administration. Perhaps these powers will never be used against citizens. Even if you think so, I still think you’re wrong to compare “social exile” to government repression of speech, especially if you think the possibility of the former justifies ignoring the risks presented by the latter.
This does not make the Trump administration unique, and the citizen/non-citizen line has already been breached. The Obama administration drone-struck American citizens abroad without trial, and the Bush administration's excesses in this realm are famous and numerous.
The “War on Terror” had some serious abuses of the rule of law, it’s true. “They’re terrorists” was used as justification to hold people without trial or order them killed by drone strike. This was based on the fear that these were people who might kill large numbers of Americans. It was still wrong.
Within US borders, though, there were laws against suspected terrorists, and due process for those accused. That has changed. For non-citizens, the Trump administration is not respecting the rule of law that used to hold on American soil. This is a significant change, and the courts are already pushing back on it. We don’t yet know to what extent the Trump administration will comply with court orders on the subject. The Trump administration has also broadened the potential scope of these actions beyond the “War on Terror” and into a generalised war on a variety of kinds of immigrants.
Say “imprisoned for the rest of your life in horrible conditions” rather than deported. Even then, I can agree that death is worse, but will reiterate that it was one instance that did not seem to be escalating. I agree that it was wrong to order an American citizen killed but I nevertheless think that the current situation gives us far more cause for alarm.
The Trump administration does have a gulag, though. It’s in El Salvador. The administration has already claimed in court that if they send someone there by mistake there is nothing they can do to get them back.
Non-citizens who cross American borders, whether legally or illegally, are clearly at risk if they take actions that criticise the Trump administration. Perhaps these powers will never be used against citizens. Even if you think so, I still think you’re wrong to compare “social exile” to government repression of speech, especially if you think the possibility of the former justifies ignoring the risks presented by the latter.
Just the point, Gemma. Thanks.
Classic America, we even offshore our detention centers. Point well taken Gemma.
This does not make the Trump administration unique, and the citizen/non-citizen line has already been breached. The Obama administration drone-struck American citizens abroad without trial, and the Bush administration's excesses in this realm are famous and numerous.
The “War on Terror” had some serious abuses of the rule of law, it’s true. “They’re terrorists” was used as justification to hold people without trial or order them killed by drone strike. This was based on the fear that these were people who might kill large numbers of Americans. It was still wrong.
Within US borders, though, there were laws against suspected terrorists, and due process for those accused. That has changed. For non-citizens, the Trump administration is not respecting the rule of law that used to hold on American soil. This is a significant change, and the courts are already pushing back on it. We don’t yet know to what extent the Trump administration will comply with court orders on the subject. The Trump administration has also broadened the potential scope of these actions beyond the “War on Terror” and into a generalised war on a variety of kinds of immigrants.
We don’t know how far this will go. The Trump administration moves fast. They’ve already discussed sending citizens to El Salvador, according to some reports: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/11/military-contractors-prison-plan-detained-immigrants-erik-prince-00287208.
In light of these aspects, I do not think it makes sense to claim that nothing much has changed from previous administrations.
I don't think you're fully appreciating the distinction between "deported" and "drone struck."
Say “imprisoned for the rest of your life in horrible conditions” rather than deported. Even then, I can agree that death is worse, but will reiterate that it was one instance that did not seem to be escalating. I agree that it was wrong to order an American citizen killed but I nevertheless think that the current situation gives us far more cause for alarm.