Trump's Turmoil: Immigration Wars, Free Speech Cracks, and Deadly Disasters

Let's do a round-up of this weeks shit show.

This past week, Donald Trump's unpredictable moves have caused chaos and panic nationwide. This administration aims to tire you, burn you out, and eventually make you apathetic to the reality of the world they strive to create.

That is why you subscribe to and read newsletters like mine. Today, we will review his moves this week, cutting through all the noise and chaos.

1. Trump Signed Laken Riley Bill Into Law

On Wednesday, Trump signed the immigration detention bill into law, his first legislative victory as president. The measure passed the Senate last week 64-35, with 12 Democrats turning their backs on their party to support it (something Republicans would NEVER do).

This act essentially requires ICE agents to detain undocumented immigrants arrested, facing charges or convicted of “burglary, theft. larceny or shoplifting”. This bill has many critics because it essentially gives ICE agents to deport anyone just for simply getting arrested, even if it’s a false arrest or for a crime they didn’t do.

To put it simply, for an undocumented immigrant, it isn’t “innocent until proven guilty.” It’s “guilty and deported at first arrest.”

2. Pro-Palestine Protestors on Visa Will now Be Hunted and Deported by Feds

Trump just signed an executive order to “combat antisemitism” and pledged to deport non-citizen college students/others who took part in pro-Palestinian protests.

The order promises "immediate action" by the Justice Department to prosecute "terroristic threats, arson, vandalism and violence against American Jews" along with marshall all federal resources to combat what it calls “the explosion of antisemitism on our campuses and streets" post-Oct. 7. This includes any artwork, graffiti, or support for the Palestinian cause. They are conflating the liberation of Palestine with antisemitism, which is highly problematic in itself.

Legal scholars have noted that the new measure violates constitutional free speech rights. The administration will probably face legal resistance, but I’m optimistic that will not stop it.

3. The Creation of a Concentration Camp in Guantanamo Bay for Undocumented People

On Wednesday, Trump signed a memorandum informing the government to prepare the US Naval base in Guantanamo Bay to detain up to 30,000 undocumented immigrants.

We have 30,000 beds in Guantanamo to detain the worst criminal illegal aliens threatening the American people. This will double our capacity immediately.” - Trump

According to Homeland Security, the base will be reserved to detain what they describe as “the worst of the worst.” A US official told CNN that the facilities at Guantanamo Bay are not at all prepared to house up to 30,000 people, let alone the lack of staff, and applies for that kind of a move as well.

Though, it doesn’t seem like Trump cares, as he’s on a rampage right now.

4. Rare Blackhawk Helicopter Crash

The nation’s deadliest aviation disaster in almost a quarter of a century happened on Thursday when an army helicopter and an American Airlines plane crashed into each other, killing all 67 people on board.

At this time, we don’t know if the collision was caused by Trump’s moves or not when he came into office. But here is a timeline of what happened until the lead up of this fatal collision:

January 20: FAA director resigns after Elon Musk tells him to, leaving the FAA with no director

January 21: As part of the blanket hiring freeze, no federal civilian position that was vacant on January 20 would be filled, and no new positions would be created unless required by law or presidential orders. This includes the FAA, as they are federal civilian employees.

January 22: The aviation safety advisory committee was disbanded. Although it will technically continue to exist, it will not have any members to examine safety issues at airlines and airports.

January 28: Trump’s administration offers buyouts to federal employees to reduce the government workforce quickly.

January 29: The helicopter and American Airlines crash took place.

According to a report obtained by AP, “staffing in the tower was "not normal" at the time of the collision.” According to the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, air traffic control staffing nationwide decreased by 9% from 2011 to 2023.

Flights have only increased since then.

Wrapping it Up…

This past week has been marked by a series of controversial decisions from Donald Trump’s administration, each contributing to a growing sense of chaos and uncertainty.

From signing bills that dramatically expand ICE's power to further criminalizing free speech in the name of combating antisemitism to the troubling creation of a detention center at Guantanamo Bay for undocumented individuals, it’s clear that these moves are designed to destabilize and wear down the public’s resolve.

The recent helicopter crash underscores the potentially deadly consequences of a government that seems increasingly dysfunctional and disinterested in oversight or accountability.

As we continue to witness these sweeping changes, it is essential to stay informed, question the motives behind these actions, and remain vigilant in defending the values that form the bedrock of our democracy.

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, but by staying aware and engaged, we can begin to cut through the noise and hold those in power accountable.