Thoughts on the Trump presidency

[SuspectUsual]

Plus, as @yorkie said, she was murdered, she was killed by a deliberate act of someone who was trained. She didn't have an accident.

I think the level of training is debatable

 

[ainsworth74]

I think the level of training is debatable

Oh of course though this fella appears to have been in the employ of various agencies doing this kind of work for a number of years so it's not as if he's a Trump inspired new recruit who struggled to pass an open book exam like some of them are.

 

[najaB]

It also questionable whether ICE even have the authority to order people out of vehicles. They're not police. They cannot carry out traffic stops.

They have no power of arrest or detainment over US citizens.

In other news, DJT has imposed an additional 25% tariff on countries "doing business with" Iran. Exactly what this means is anyone's guess:

As we've been reporting, Donald Trump has announced a 25% tariff on goods from countries with commercial ties to Iran.

The tariff is "effective immediately", the president posted on his media platform Truth Social, adding: "This order is final and conclusive."

Iran is already under severe US sanctions, facing a collapsing currency and inflation that has pushed food prices up by as much as 70%.

Food makes up about one-third of Iran's imports, and further restrictions caused by the tariffs could worsen shortages and costs.

China is Iran's largest trading partner, followed by Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey and India.

BBC News: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cj691w2e840t?post=asset:64b0a1ee-6ff7-49a3-ab63-0595db6ad4e1#post

 

[Cowley]

Oh of course though this fella appears to have been in the employ of various agencies doing this kind of work for a number of years so it's not as if he's a Trump inspired new recruit who struggled to pass an open book exam like some of them are.

I’d love to know how many of the January 6th rioters, members of the Proud Boys etc have been recruited into ICE.

 

[Tester]

They have no power of arrest or detainment over US citizens.

In other news, DJT has imposed an additional 25% tariff on countries "doing business with" Iran. Exactly what this means is anyone's guess:

BBC News: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cj691w2e840t?post=asset:64b0a1ee-6ff7-49a3-ab63-0595db6ad4e1#post

It presumably means that American consumers will pay more for their Chinese stuff - so much winning!

 

[ainsworth74]

They have no power of arrest or detainment over US citizens.

Yes that's what I thought. Doesn't stop the right-wing nutjobs claiming that you should just comply to make sure they can do their job properly. I'm sure they'd have been equally as sangfroid about the situation if this was happening under Biden or Obama...

In other news, DJT has imposed an additional 25% tariff on countries "doing business with" Iran. Exactly what this means is anyone's guess:

So more tariffs on Russia then yes? After all they do a lot of business with Iran...

I’d love to know how many of the January 6th rioters, members of the Proud Boys etc have been recruited into ICE.

It is interesting that since ICE's big recruitment drive they all seem to have gone strangely silent. Purely a coincidence I'm sure.

 

[najaB]

It presumably means that American consumers will pay more for their Chinese stuff - so much winning!

So more tariffs on Russia then yes? After all they do a lot of business with Iran.

Iran also does a significant amount of business with South Korea, India, Türkiye, Germany, the UK, Brazil, etc.

That's a *LOT* of new tariffs!

 

[Annetts key]

In other news, DJT has imposed an additional 25% tariff on countries "doing business with" Iran. Exactly what this means is anyone's guess:

BBC News: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cj691w2e840t?post=asset:64b0a1ee-6ff7-49a3-ab63-0595db6ad4e1#post

Does this mean that Trump has discovered that his "big beautiful" military doesn't have the tools available in the area of Iran to do anything that would be effective in punishing the current Iranian leadership ? As I understand it, the U.S. Navy doesn't currently have a carrier group in the seas anywhere near the area. Not while the U.S. has a significant number of ships ready to attack that superpower that is such a threat to the U.S.A. in South America...

I can't see additional tariffs alone being effective.

 

[JamesT]

They have no power of arrest or detainment over US citizens.

That's not entirely true. They have the same powers as other federal law enforcement officers such as the FBI. Notably interfering with federal law enforcement activity is a federal crime for which someone can be arrested. Whether it would be successfully prosecuted is a different matter.
But if they've tried to detain someone they believe is an illegal immigrant, then that stops as soon as the person can prove they're a US citizen.

 

[nw1]

But if they've tried to detain someone they believe is an illegal immigrant, then that stops as soon as the person can prove they're a US citizen.

And if they're a legal immigrant? What then?

 

[najaB]

That's not entirely true. They have the same powers as other federal law enforcement officers such as the FBI. Notably interfering with federal law enforcement activity is a federal crime for which someone can be arrested. Whether it would be successfully prosecuted is a different matter.

I do not believe this to be accurate.

The only grounds an ICE has to stop and interrogate someone is if they have "reasonable suspicion" that they do not have permission to be in the USA. Note, this is power to interrogate, not to detain or arrest.

(These powers are somewhat enhanced within 100 miles of the border).

They do have power to arrest similar to other law enforcement, but only when they believe the citizen is involved in an immigration-related federal crime (e.g. people smuggling). This power does not allow them to stop and detain citizens randomly on the street because they "disrespected" them - or to shoot them in the face - as in the case of Renee Good.

 

[JamesT]

I do not believe this to be accurate.

The only grounds an ICE has to stop and interrogate someone is if they have "reasonable suspicion" that they do not have permission to be in the USA. Note, this is power to interrogate, not to detain or arrest.

(These powers are somewhat enhanced within 100 miles of the border).

They do have power to arrest similar to other law enforcement, but only when they believe the citizen is involved in an immigration-related federal crime (e.g. people smuggling). This power does not allow them to stop and detain citizens randomly on the street because they "disrespected" them - or to shoot them in the face - as in the case of Renee Good.

What is ICE and what powers do its agents have to use force?

The immigration agency is under scrutiny after the fatal shooting of Minneapolis woman Renee Nicole Good.

www.bbc.co.uk

Its agents can stop, detain and arrest people they suspect of being in the US illegally. They can detain US citizens in limited circumstances, such as if a person interferes with an arrest, assaults an officer, or ICE suspect the person of being in the US illegally.

Can ICE Arrest a U.S. Citizen? Understanding Criminal vs. Civil Authority

ICE can arrest U.S. citizens for federal crimes - but not for immigration violations. Learn the difference and what to do if you’re detained.

rjimmigrationlaw.com

ICE agents have the same authority as other federal law enforcement officers like the FBI or U.S. Marshals when it comes to enforcing federal criminal laws. If a U.S. citizen commits a federal crime—such as assaulting a federal agent, obstructing official duties, or lying to investigators—ICE can arrest them.

Renee Nicole Good seen ‘dancing’ as she blocks ICE agents for several minutes before fatal Minneapolis shooting

The 3 1/2-minute clip, posted on X Saturday, was shot from high up and shows Good’s vehicle stopped diagonally across the street, obstructing one lane of traffic.

nypost.com

Newly surfaced video appears to show Renee Nicole Good blocking ICE agents with her SUV for more than three minutes before she was fatally shot during a Minneapolis immigration operation.

If that footage is accurate, then literal obstruction of ICE gives them cause to attempt to arrest her.

 

[dgl]

I see some parallels between what is happening in Iran and what is happening in the US. Of course it's not on the same scale but both are protesting against the government and people are being murdered for doing so.

 

[nw1]

Renee Nicole Good seen ‘dancing’ as she blocks ICE agents for several minutes before fatal Minneapolis shooting

The 3 1/2-minute clip, posted on X Saturday, was shot from high up and shows Good’s vehicle stopped diagonally across the street, obstructing one lane of traffic.

nypost.com

If that footage is accurate, then literal obstruction of ICE gives them cause to attempt to arrest her.

Ah, she was seen dancing! She was blocking the ICE agents with her vehicle! We can't have that, can we? Interfering with ICE's powers to detain suspected illegal immigrants without charge.

So it's alright to murder her then (I will use that word as others here, including moderators, have used it), and the American Right are not a bunch of bloodthirsty, violent, reactionary so-and-sos after all. Let's all forgive Donald. He is the saviour of America, cleansing it from lefties and foreigners.



Seriously, the New York Post is probably not the best source of information as it appears to be the US equivalent of the Sun.

 

[JamesT]

Ah, she was seen dancing! She was blocking the ICE agents with her vehicle! We can't have that, can we?

So it's alright to murder her then (I will use that word as others here, including moderators, have used it), and the American Right are not a bunch of bloodthirsty, violent, reactionary so-and-sos after all. Let's all forgive Donald. He is the saviour of America, cleansing it from leftie scum.

No, and that's not what I said. The claim was that ICE agents had no authority to detain her. If she was blocking them with her car, then she gave them cause to try and stop her. If she had complied at that point, she almost certainly wouldn't have been shot. Trying to drive off into an ICE agent is what got her killed.

 

[najaB]

Its agents can stop, detain and arrest people they suspect of being in the US illegally. They can detain US citizens in limited circumstances, such as if a person interferes with an arrest, assaults an officer, or ICE suspect the person of being in the US illegally.

If that footage is accurate, then literal obstruction of ICE gives them cause to attempt to arrest her.

The quoted text is largely true, however I think you are reading more into it than is actually the case (and I disagree that they can arrest a citizen simply on the belief that they are in contravention of immigration law or regulation).

The law (8 U.S.C § 1357) specifically says (note my red text):

§1357. Powers of immigration officers and employees​

(a) Powers without warrant​

Any officer or employee of the Service authorized under regulations prescribed by the Attorney General shall have power without warrant—

(1) to interrogate any alien or person believed to be an alien as to his right to be or to remain in the United States;​

(2) to arrest any alien who in his presence or view is entering or attempting to enter the United States in violation of any law or regulation made in pursuance of law regulating the admission, exclusion, expulsion, or removal of aliens, or to arrest any alien in the United States, if he has reason to believe that the alien so arrested is in the United States in violation of any such law or regulation and is likely to escape before a warrant can be obtained for his arrest, but the alien arrested shall be taken without unnecessary delay for examination before an officer of the Service having authority to examine aliens as to their right to enter or remain in the United States;​

They can interrogate someone (citizen or not) who they believe to be an alien, but only arrest an alien who is believed to be in contravention to the law or regulation.

As to their other power of arrest, the law continues:

(5) to make arrests—

(A) for any offense against the United States, if the offense is committed in the officer's or employee's presence, or​

(B) for any felony cognizable under the laws of the United States, if the officer or employee has reasonable grounds to believe that the person to be arrested has committed or is committing such a felony,​

Where the offence against the United States would be felony obstruction of a officer in the course of their duties, which is covered by 18 U.S. Code § 111:

18 U.S. Code § 111 - Assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers or employees​

(a)In General.—Whoever—

(1) forcibly assaults, resists, opposes, impedes, intimidates, or interferes with any person designated in section 1114 of this title while engaged in or on account of the performance of official duties; or
​

(2) forcibly assaults or intimidates any person who formerly served as a person designated in section 1114 on account of the performance of official duties during such person’s term of service,
​

shall, where the acts in violation of this section constitute only simple assault, be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both, and where such acts involve physical contact with the victim of that assault or the intent to commit another felony, be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 8 years, or both.

There is no sign that Renee Good used force in any way - she quite literally said "I'm not angry with you" a minute before she was shot.

 

[brad465]

Anyone else thinking of Tiananmen Square comparisons:

Iran protester 'to be executed tomorrow', rights group says, as official says 2,000 killed in crackdown - live updates

Eyewitnesses tell the BBC Iranian security forces "fired directly into lines of protesters, and people fell where they stood".

www.bbc.co.uk

Thousands feared dead in Iran's protests crackdown​

The death toll from the crackdown on anti-government protests Iran is now feared to be in the thousands, according to BBC Persian correspondent Jiyar Gol and a source speaking to Reuters news agency.

Gol says he can "say with confidence, the numbers who have been killed must be in thousands", adding that although the government has used force before, "this time around it is absolutely unprecedented".

Reuters news agency has also reported an Iranian security official as saying the death toll could be around 2,000 people. The source said the estimation included security personnel as well as civilians and blamed "terrorists" for the deaths.

This comes as the UN's human rights office spokesperson Jeremy Laurence told a conference in Geneva that "reports indicate hundreds have been killed and thousands arrested".

This estimate comes from the UN's own sources on the ground, Laurence said. "These are reliable sources".

The update comes after one human rights group yesterday said it believed nearly 650 protesters have been killed and thousands injured.

Various factors make it difficult to determine the number of people who have died during the protests in Iran. The country restricts international news organisations from operating there and there has been an internet blackout for the past five days.

 

[Ediswan]

I do not believe this to be accurate.

The only grounds an ICE has to stop and interrogate someone is if they have "reasonable suspicion" that they do not have permission to be in the USA. Note, this is power to interrogate, not to detain or arrest.

(These powers are somewhat enhanced within 100 miles of the border).

They do have power to arrest similar to other law enforcement, but only when they believe the citizen is involved in an immigration-related federal crime (e.g. people smuggling). This power does not allow them to stop and detain citizens randomly on the street because they "disrespected" them - or to shoot them in the face - as in the case of Renee Good.

I recall reading that 'the border' has been interpreted as including any airport with international flghts, which covers most/all major cities.

 

[najaB]

I recall reading that 'the border' has been interpreted as including any airport with international flghts, which covers most/all major cities.

While that would apply airside at those airports (granting CBP additional powers to screen incoming passengers), I don't believe that's been put to the test that it also applies landside.

 

[Bantamzen]

No, and that's not what I said. The claim was that ICE agents had no authority to detain her. If she was blocking them with her car, then she gave them cause to try and stop her. If she had complied at that point, she almost certainly wouldn't have been shot. Trying to drive off into an ICE agent is what got her killed.

This is the narrative that quite a lot of folk over in the US have that want to just ignore what a gross overreaction shooting her actually was. Especially given the fact that slightly prior to her being killed, she actually waves the ICE vehicles through as her car is only blocking one side of the road (one actually does go past). And even if it was, once she tried to move away the agents should have let her do so. Instead not only did he shoot her dead, but created a new danger in her car accelerating away down the street. Thankfully no further innocent people were killed as a result, but the agent was downright reckless and should be prosecuted to the full extent of the laws over there.

 

[Gloster]

Seriously, the New York Post is probably not the best source of information as it appears to be the US equivalent of the Sun.

That is a gross insult…to The Sun. (I never thought that I would write something like that.)

 

[JamesT]

The quoted text is largely true, however I think you are reading more into it than is actually the case (and I disagree that they can arrest a citizen simply on the belief that they are in contravention of immigration law or regulation).

The law (8 U.S.C § 1357) specifically says (note my red text):

They can interrogate someone (citizen or not) who they believe to be an alien, but only arrest an alien who is believed to be in contravention to the law or regulation.

As to their other power of arrest, the law continues:

Where the offence against the United States would be felony obstruction of a officer in the course of their duties, which is covered by 18 U.S. Code § 111:

There is no sign that Renee Good used force in any way - she quite literally said "I'm not angry with you" a minute before she was shot.

It never got that far, so we don't know what basis they were asking her to step out of the car was. The circumstances do seem unlikely that it was to do with her immigration status.

Putting a 2 ton object in the way isn't using force? I don't see how expressing anger or not has anything to do with it.

18 U.S.C. 111: Assaulting or Resisting a Federal Officer Explained

Learn how 18 U.S.C. 111 defines assault or resistance against federal officers, the legal distinctions involved, and factors that influence prosecution.

legalclarity.org

Scope of Prohibited Acts
18 U.S.C. 111 criminalizes a broad range of conduct against federal officers and employees engaged in official duties. It covers physical assaults, resistance, intimidation, and interference. Even non-violent obstruction, such as refusing to comply with lawful orders or blocking an officer’s movement, can lead to prosecution. Courts interpret the law broadly to ensure federal officials can perform their duties without interference.

So I don't think I'm stretching too much to say there's a basis there.

 

[Krokodil]

So she would have seen the gun pointing at her while she was stationary.

Don't you think that the bloke trying to force his way though the driver's side window might command more of her attention?

I'm very surprised they've managed to do it to the wrong person yet and end up in a gun battle.

Why do you think that they've been attacking elementary schools rather than in "the 'hood"? They go for easy targets, not dangerous criminals.

I think the level of training is debatable

This chap was apparently the instructor

 

[ainsworth74]

Why do you think that they've been attacking elementary schools rather than in "the 'hood"? They go for easy targets, not dangerous criminals.

Indeed and as is always the way with pathetic bullies. They always go for the easy mark. Eventually though in a society which has quite so many guns as the US does and a strong streak of "shoot first, ask questions later" when it comes to self-defence it's going to go wrong.

 

[Elwyn]

While that would apply airside at those airports (granting CBP additional powers to screen incoming passengers), I don't believe that's been put to the test that it also applies landside.

I spent a couple of weeks in New Mexico a few years back. The arrangements there are for formal passport controls on the Mexican border itself, as you would expect. These are supplemented by mobile patrols that drive along the general border area, stopping people and vehicles that attract their attention. Plus there are observation balloons (and probably drones these days). Then about 50 or 60 miles inland on all routes heading north, there are further passport control points designed - so we were told - to try and catch those who had managed to cross illegally and were now heading away from the border.

I would guess therefore that the “enhanced” powers within 100 miles of the border are designed to cover these additional controls.

 

[DoubleLemon]

Does this mean that Trump has discovered that his "big beautiful" military doesn't have the tools available in the area of Iran to do anything that would be effective in punishing the current Iranian leadership ? As I understand it, the U.S. Navy doesn't currently have a carrier group in the seas anywhere near the area. Not while the U.S. has a significant number of ships ready to attack that superpower that is such a threat to the U.S.A. in South America...

I can't see additional tariffs alone being effective.

this video on the state of the US navy popped up on my feed.

 

[ainsworth74]

this video on the state of the US navy popped up on my feed.

Worth noting that the end of that video (I've not watched the whole thing just quickly skimmed a few bits) has been already overtaken by events as the Constellation class has been cancelled with only two ordered.

As I noted earlier. The US Navy is almost institutionally incapable of bringing new surface warships into service successfully or at all in many cases.

 

[edwin_m]

The US Navy is almost institutionally incapable of bringing new surface warships into service successfully or at all in many cases.

They seem to do relatively OK with the big ones. Maybe that's why they've decided to build 24 Trump class "battleships" to do the work of a couple of hundred frigates and destroyers.

 

[najaB]

Putting a 2 ton object in the way isn't using force? I don't see how expressing anger or not has anything to do with it.

The vehicle was moving away from the officer (the front wheels were turned away from him), who then moved to put himself in front of it.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Jan 2026 ==

I would guess therefore that the “enhanced” powers within 100 miles of the border are designed to cover these additional controls.

Agreed. However the point I was responding to was if the "border zone" also consists of a circle centred on every international airport.

 

[JamesT]

The vehicle was moving away from the officer (the front wheels were turned away from him), who then moved to put himself in front of it.

No, putting the vehicle blocking the traffic. Which is the obstructing federal agents which prompts them to approach the vehicle.