We have an all hands on deck situation in Washington State. The Congressman for northeastern Washington is on the Judiciary Committee and is going after the state for resisting full cooperation with ICE. I have called Michael Baumgartner’s office multiple times to ask him to at least set up a plan to release the falsely detained people and to assure that ICE stops going after the wrong people. He has not responded. I call him every day. If anyone out there has any pull with him, please help!!
Trump doesn't like globalism. International treaties regarding the treatment of refugees and asylum-seekers, reflected in our federal statutes, is a form of globalism. He could work to modify these agreements if he chose to, but instead he just flouts them.
Great piece of reporting, thank you Adrian! I'm sick to my stomach and my heart hurts thinking of this poor woman, but I'm so grateful you've brought her story into the light!
Much of what happened to this woman transpired before Trump took office. Dems are so afraid of looking weak that they act weak. This is wrong on a basic human level.
This is the point of the article. Trump took office on January 20th, 2025. “February of this year” came AFTER January 20th. You cannot blame Democrats for the actions of a Republican-run administration. The other events presented in the article are for context.
“ Zapata’s case finally came up for adjudication in February of this year. During the proceedings, Immigration Judge Stephen Ruhle characterized what Zapata had experienced in Colombia during Restrepo’s series of attacks as “extreme physical and sexual abuse,” noting that she had broken teeth and stab wounds, among other injuries. He ruled that the Convention Against Torture prevented her from being deported to Colombia.
After Ruhle’s decision, Zapata’s niece contacted the office of Rep. Rob Menendez (D-N.J.), her representative, seeking help with Zapata’s case, according to O’Neal.
About a month later, ICE officials in El Paso told O’Neal that Mexico had agreed to take Zapata, but that she wouldn’t be sent there anytime soon.
Three days later, ICE agents tried to ship her across the border.”
Thanks—I misread the article. To be fair, Biden’s policies weren’t much better. Less showy, less gulag-y, but it was clear to me that he was hoping to kick the immigration can down the road.
I don’t believe that. Biden would have signed the bipartisan immigration bill that Trump killed because he needed immigration as a talking point during the election.
"ICE El Paso officials did not reply to a request from The Bulwark for comment. A DHS spokesperson responded by asking for a copy of the immigration court ruling documents—but after being provided them did not respond further."
So has there been unbridled cruelty within ICE from before Trump 2.0? Were these ICE officers employed from Trump 1.0? Or is it the inherent culture in this agency? How can we address this kind of cruelty?
Adrian, your reporting is amazing. Thanks to it, I am calling my representative daily. This horrible story is un-American but I am unsurprised. Trump is an abuser, protects answers and betrays victims. This story is horrifying. Keep up the great work. You're the voice for these people and I do appreciate you!
I look out for your Substack posts bc immigration issues are so important at so many levels. There are so many heart-wrenching, gut-punching stories out there. This is one of the most horrible that's been reported.
and are acting with impunity knowing that there will be no accountability for their actions, regardless of how inhumane and/or illegal those acts may be. Trump is an amoral, indecent bastard who must be brought down. Let's all get out there this Saturday, April 5, the national day of protest. America must show those demented fools just how pissed we are!
We have an all hands on deck situation in Washington State. The Congressman for northeastern Washington is on the Judiciary Committee and is going after the state for resisting full cooperation with ICE. I have called Michael Baumgartner’s office multiple times to ask him to at least set up a plan to release the falsely detained people and to assure that ICE stops going after the wrong people. He has not responded. I call him every day. If anyone out there has any pull with him, please help!!
Thank you Adrian. I'm fighting for my immigrant students and their families in Houston.
As usual, the cruelty is the point…
Trump doesn't like globalism. International treaties regarding the treatment of refugees and asylum-seekers, reflected in our federal statutes, is a form of globalism. He could work to modify these agreements if he chose to, but instead he just flouts them.
Great piece of reporting, thank you Adrian! I'm sick to my stomach and my heart hurts thinking of this poor woman, but I'm so grateful you've brought her story into the light!
These ICE agents are the worst of the worst: sadistic bigots with unchecked power.
The Trump administration has brought out cruel behavior. This is awful.
Much of what happened to this woman transpired before Trump took office. Dems are so afraid of looking weak that they act weak. This is wrong on a basic human level.
This is the point of the article. Trump took office on January 20th, 2025. “February of this year” came AFTER January 20th. You cannot blame Democrats for the actions of a Republican-run administration. The other events presented in the article are for context.
“ Zapata’s case finally came up for adjudication in February of this year. During the proceedings, Immigration Judge Stephen Ruhle characterized what Zapata had experienced in Colombia during Restrepo’s series of attacks as “extreme physical and sexual abuse,” noting that she had broken teeth and stab wounds, among other injuries. He ruled that the Convention Against Torture prevented her from being deported to Colombia.
After Ruhle’s decision, Zapata’s niece contacted the office of Rep. Rob Menendez (D-N.J.), her representative, seeking help with Zapata’s case, according to O’Neal.
About a month later, ICE officials in El Paso told O’Neal that Mexico had agreed to take Zapata, but that she wouldn’t be sent there anytime soon.
Three days later, ICE agents tried to ship her across the border.”
Thanks—I misread the article. To be fair, Biden’s policies weren’t much better. Less showy, less gulag-y, but it was clear to me that he was hoping to kick the immigration can down the road.
I don’t believe that. Biden would have signed the bipartisan immigration bill that Trump killed because he needed immigration as a talking point during the election.
WHAT HAS BECOME OF THE LAW IN THE GREAT USA, SINFUL, MAY GOD FORGIVE YOU ALL
Good Christ Almighty
This says it all:
"ICE El Paso officials did not reply to a request from The Bulwark for comment. A DHS spokesperson responded by asking for a copy of the immigration court ruling documents—but after being provided them did not respond further."
So has there been unbridled cruelty within ICE from before Trump 2.0? Were these ICE officers employed from Trump 1.0? Or is it the inherent culture in this agency? How can we address this kind of cruelty?
Adrian, your reporting is amazing. Thanks to it, I am calling my representative daily. This horrible story is un-American but I am unsurprised. Trump is an abuser, protects answers and betrays victims. This story is horrifying. Keep up the great work. You're the voice for these people and I do appreciate you!
I look out for your Substack posts bc immigration issues are so important at so many levels. There are so many heart-wrenching, gut-punching stories out there. This is one of the most horrible that's been reported.
Horrifying! Our descent into Third World behavior is incontrovertibly complete. ICE Barbie Noem should be dismissed and prosecuted.
ICE agents are being given quotas
and are acting with impunity knowing that there will be no accountability for their actions, regardless of how inhumane and/or illegal those acts may be. Trump is an amoral, indecent bastard who must be brought down. Let's all get out there this Saturday, April 5, the national day of protest. America must show those demented fools just how pissed we are!