While about 30 billion dollars was assigned to ICE (thrice of ICE’s previous budget), 45 billion was added for the building of new detention centers (concentration camps) such as the “Alligator Alcatraz” in southern Florida, the cost of air flights of the accused (without due process) to other nations, and much more. Vice President J. D. Vance called everything else in the Bill “immaterial compared to the ICE money and immigration enforcement provisions.” The New York Times notes that a 150% increase in ICE’s budget will take place in the next five years.
Meanwhile, back in the branch of our government we call Congress, it was noted that the Bill would make ICE the highest funded law enforcement agency in our federal government. According to polls, 80% of US citizens are against most of the “Big Beautiful Bill.” How much ‘backlash’ is needed to have a change in policy ? News has it that FEMA may be rehiring after the tragic loss of life with the flooding in Texas. Would this have happened if Texas was a blue state? A “backlash” seems happening now over the evolving Epstein revelations. The last place we can hope for a “backlash” is to the ICE agenda since it is affecting our daily life now in most states.
How will our “Tarrifist-in-Chief” resolve his back-and-forth setting and resetting of tariffs on many nations? What effect will his policy in West Asia/Middle East* have if he really has a policy? By the fall of 2025, we many have some answers to these questions, but much uncertainty and suffering is taking place as we wait for answers. Other issues may emerge that will trump past ones.
From most of the media reports, we are not approaching a “Golden Age”, but our government is placing its major efforts on ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement). Most US citizens oppose this.
*The term “Middle East” was coined by the military of the USA and Britain because it is about halfway between the East and the West. A more correct term now being used is “West Asia.”
