Trump has already enmeshed the United States military in domestic law enforcement operations involving immigration to an unprecedented degree. He has authorized a major military buildup at the border. He has maximized the use of military planes for deportations, complete with the White House pumping out imagery of migrants getting frog-marched onto souped-up military aircraft. He sent the National Guard into Los Angeles amid large-scale protests there—and then sent in the Marines.
But an internal memo circulated inside the Department of Homeland Security suggests that Trump’s use of the military for domestic law enforcement on immigration could soon get worse.
New Republic
Don't bother saying it's illegal to use the military for domestic policing. Waste of breath. There is no rule of law in this country now. There is only rule of Trump.Positive outcomes and/or action items include:
The U.S. military leadership (the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs and NORTHCOM) need to feel — for the first time — the urgency of the homeland defense mission. They need to understand the threat, what’s at stake, and the political importance the administration has placed on this issue.
A verbal agreement to find places where DoD can detail personnel within ICE and CBP (and vice-versa) to increase information sharing, and specifically support nationwide operational planning capabilities.
A clear understanding of each department’s capabilities, limitations and shared objectives.
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The mere fact that this meeting is happening with these participants illustrates just how urgent and cooperative the homeland mission has become. This is a priority of POTUS.
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We’ve got Central and South American cartels and gangs trafficking drugs, humans, and terror into American cities at will
These same Transnational Criminal Organizations have now been designated by this administration as Foreign Terrorist Organization’s [sic].
That puts this threat on the same plain [sic] as having Al Qaeda or ISIS cells and fighters operating freely inside America.
Everyone here is also aware of our joint work in L.A.
It hasn’t been perfect, and we’re still working through best practices together, but I think it’s a good indicator of the type of operations (and resistance) we’re going to be working through for years to come.
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To Make America Safe Again, DHS and DoD will need to be in lockstep with each other.
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Due to the sensitive nature of the meeting, minimal written policy or background information can be provided in this briefing memo.
What did I just say, Carrie?“The memo is alarming, because it speaks to the intent to use the military within the United States at a level not seen since Japanese internment,” Carrie Lee, senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund, told me. “The military is the most powerful, coercive tool our country has. We don’t want the military doing law enforcement. It absolutely undermines the rule of law.”
“It’s disturbing to see DHS officials pressuring the U.S. military to turn its focus inward even further,” Joseph Nunn, counsel for the Liberty and National Security Program at the Brennan Center, told me. Nunn said this suggests “military involvement in domestic civilian law enforcement” is about to get “more common.”
Also, somebody leaked. And maybe they don't care in this instance. Scaring people is a big factor in fascism.
