Secretary of Homeland Security asked other departments to help stop "caravans" - Polidicks

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/11/30/kirstjen-nielsen-border-police-1035554 Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen has requested the deployment of civilian law enforcement officers from several other Cabinet departments to the U.S.-Mexico border as early as next week, according to an internal memo obtained by POLITICO. In what current and former U.S. officials said would be an unprecedented move, the officers — who in most cases have duties entirely unrelated to border security — would help Border Patrol agents repel what the memo calls “migrant caravans originating from Central America.” The request suggests that personnel with such assignments as guarding diplomats, patrolling national parks, and protecting nuclear weapons might effectively “become Customs and Border Protection personnel,” as one former Justice Department official put it, with the power to arrest border-crossers. A senior DHS official who confirmed the memo’s authenticity said the Justice Department has already made a commitment to dispatch officers to the border, and that DHS is actively “working with” other departments named in the memo to determine the availability of law enforcement resources. The memo was sent to leaders of the departments of State, Labor, Energy, Transportation, Interior and Justice In recent months, Trump has ordered thousands of active duty military troops to the border. But they are prevented by a law known as the Posse Comitatus Act from participating in searches or making arrests. Civilians at the departments contacted by Nielsen would not face such a restriction. Depending on how many law enforcement officials are sent to the border to assist CBP, one DHS official said the removal of some troops might be expedited. As previously reported by POLITICO, all military personnel deployed to the border are expected to return home before Christmas, though the Pentagon later said that “no specific timeline for redeployment has been determined.”

It's no surprise that during the Trump administration, the DHS has become the administration's "gestapo" of sorts, on the prowl for the "dirty brownies" and any other person that isn't white.

https://twitter.com/stableford/status/1068618512808194049

Not trying to justify any mistreatment or the activities that has been going on. But, when you deal with a large amount of people it isn't really uncommon to issue people numbers or case numbers. I mean people who are incarcerated have inmate numbers...so there is that. Numbering systems have been used way before concentration camps and still are used commonly. I mean we have employee numbers, badge numbers, inmate numbers, convict numbers, SSN, etc. The names of these people have to be tied to some type of numerical system to help keep applications in order. Plenty of bad shit is going on, I don't think we need to be overly dramatic and try and stretch the truth.

What the fuck. I find it hard to believe even this administration wouldn't realise how bad the optics of numbers written on people's arms would be.

yes, but.. you can just write numbers on a piece of paper and hand it to them. you know, like a ticket at the deli or an id card. not write it on them like cattle

They're probably going to be waiting for days if not weeks to be processed at the border. A little ticket is far too easy to lose. Not that writing numbers on their arms in Sharpie is better, but it's at least more permanent and harder to lose when your asylum claim is 1000th in line and the US border is deliberately processing asylum claimants very slowly and turning away anyone who exceeds their tiny capacity.

this is what the ravings of a mad king look like.

And if they lose the paper then you have to halt the entire system until they find out who this person is. Or I suppose you could just ignore the person and move onto the next, which presents it's own controversy.

Not saying it's right or wrong, but if you're using the number as a way to organize the process you might argue that writing in permanent marker on their skin makes it less transferable and less prone to misuse. There's hundreds/thousands of people there, if you gotta give them numbers to be in line for the process then some people might be inclined to cheat the system by stealing numbers, or trading numbers, etc. How do you guarantee that #1354 is the same #1354 that received a number? A semi-permanent number they can't lose or trade might help make a hectic process less hectic. At the same time... There's nothing really stopping someone from getting their own permanent marker and forging places in the line unless they're keeping a good track on repeat numbers. But then you can also defraud the real #2487 if you happen to forge than number and beat the real person to the processing place. I don't know how the authorities are verifying the numbers. All and all, it's an imperfect method for an imperfect system. But I don't think the attempt to parallel it with the people that were put in camps by the Nazis is entirely fair. I've been thinking about this whole caravan thing and thinking about what I'd do if I was President. It's a pretty tough thing because you won't please everyone. I think what I would do is reform the asylum system. Mass migrats would be directed to enter through a border crossing ONLY. All illegal entrants will be denied. At the border crossing if you are seeking asylum and think you have a legitimate claim, you fill out paperwork declaring your request for asylum, and filling out personal information, you have your picture taken, as well as your finger print. You are given a distinct card, we'll call it a Migrant in Processing for Asylum card. This card has your information, your photo, and your finger print. As well as a barcode that can be scanned and uploaded. This card will put you on a database where you can be quickly pulled up if need-be. This card recognizes you as a guest in the country and you must agree to present it to authorities or employers. The card puts you on automatic Probation. If you are convicted of any crime higher than a determined severity you are denied Asylum and will be put in the deportation process. The card acts basically as a temporary green card. We'll make it a tint of red and call it a red card. It allows you to work and pay taxes until your asylum is approved, then you'll be given a green card. But the card also makes it super easy to find you if you're denied or abusing our trust by breaking the law. States will be given federal funding based off the number of red card holders they have in their state as an incentive to be welcoming to our new guests. The difference between this and an immigrant Visa is that this is an agreement between the CBP and the card holder that you are seeking permanent asylum and that this is only a temporary agreement to stay in the US while your processed. And that you agree to give up your information and biometrics, and agree to be on probation until your asylum is approved. It's basically a conditional green card pending your approval. Benefits: these poor people aren't treated like cattle behind the fence, forced to live in temporary camps in Mexico, etc. They're granted immediate entry and can work and be a productive, tax-paying member of society. Liberals are happy because you're letting the people in and not treating them like an invasion with tear gas and military intimation. Conservatives are happy because the people are easily tracked and criminals are quickly delt with. Plus they can get work and pay "their share." Of course people will complain that giving them biometric cards is still dehumanizing, or that letting a huge influx of immigrants in is dangerous, but we can't please everyone. We can't let people in unchecked. And we can't do nothing and let them be abused in shanties along the border. This would be just one step in a complete re-write of the immigration system.