In the span of just a few days, two men lost their lives in separate encounters with ICE agents. Lorenzo Salgado-Araujo was fatally shot in Houston, and a 26-year-old Colombian man with work authorization was killed in Maine while on his way to work. These tragedies are not isolated incidents but part of a growing pattern of deadly force in immigration enforcement.
The phrase “We didn’t cross the border, the border crossed us” resonates deeply, reminding us that this land has always been home to many before it was called America. Yet, we often act as if we are the original inhabitants, deciding who deserves to stay. This mindset has led to a culture of surveillance and enforcement that is increasingly at odds with the values this country was built upon.
The escalation of deadly force in ICE enforcement
With at least 21 deaths in ICE custody this year alone, the use of deadly force in immigration enforcement is becoming a frightening norm. The recent shootings in Houston and Maine should serve as a wake-up call, demanding a national reckoning over the growing use of force by ICE agents. Families are left devastated, trying to understand how an encounter with federal agents turned into a death sentence.
The lack of accountability is equally alarming. In the case of Renee Nicole Good, who was killed by a federal immigration agent earlier this year, the agent remains employed by ICE, reportedly reassigned rather than removed. This endless deferral of accountability is a denial of justice for the families affected.
The expansion of the surveillance state
America has long marketed itself as a land of opportunity, inviting people from all over the world to build a life here. However, the same country that once welcomed immigrants is now becoming increasingly comfortable with killing people for pursuing that dream. The expansion of immigration databases, facial recognition systems, and data-sharing agreements between agencies is turning America into a surveillance state.
We have become accustomed to constant surveillance, from cameras on our front doors to the data collected by apps. We market it as peace of mind, but these technologies are deeply intertwined with policing and immigration enforcement. The slow erosion of privacy and autonomy is happening right before our eyes, and we are barely questioning it.
The fragmentation of communities
A remarkable political achievement of this moment has been convincing every community that it is fighting a separate battle. Immigrants, transgender Americans, protesters, and journalists are all told their struggles are distinct. This fragmentation benefits the administration, as isolated communities are easier to suppress than united ones. The infrastructure used to identify, locate, and track immigrants is built from many of the same assumptions that make it easier to investigate abortion seekers, catalogue transgender people, and monitor political activism.
It is time to recognize that these are not separate conversations. The infrastructure and technologies used for immigration enforcement are the same ones that can be used to target other communities. We must stand in solidarity, understanding that the fight for one is the fight for all.
The American Dream is being dismantled, replaced by detention centers, surveillance networks, and databases. If America is to remain exceptional, it must correct its course before this new normal becomes what we leave behind.
