From its inception, DHS was a corruption of fundamental American values.

[pat_k]

I've been noticing posts and commentary describing how Noem–Lewandowski have corrupted DHS. While the horror show remaking of DHS under the felon's regime is appalling, one thing that is rarely noted is that DHS was a corruption of fundamental American values from its inception.

By conflating national security and immigration enforcement, the Homeland Security Act of 2002 consolidated and weaponized 22 agencies.

The title "Homeland" itself was an intentional embrace of ethnic nationalism and white supremacy. It framed the United States not as a nation founded on universal ideals, but as a white homeland.

Placing INS immigration functions within a national security agency inherently reframed immigrants as security threats, rather than as people.

The redefined INS functions were institutionalized with the creation of ICE and CBP -- agencies that were bloated by massive increases in funding that was driven, not by a documented need, but by a Nationalist perspective and anti-immigrant paranoia fueled by demagogues stoking 911 fears. The result was a dramatic expansion of detention facilities and increasingly aggressive, militarized tactics.

As we redeem our national soul and work to remake our government, immigration functions must be moved back to a civil/legal agency like the pre-2003 INS, with a corresponding shift from aggressive, militarized policing to administrative law and protection of civil rights. In addition, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service must be restored to it's mission as a service agency, not the corrupt enforcement agency focused on blocking and denying applicants that it has become.

And, however we reorganize and reform the other functions of DHS, we MUST drop the vile Homeland name. This nation needs a government that strives to promote the safety, security, and well-being of the diverse populous while protecting the civil rights of everyone living within our borders. DHS, as it currently exists, undermines those goals.