#27 ¿Que pasó? with Señor B - week of 9/29

This week, President Trump deployed federal agents and troops to Portland in response to ongoing protests outside ICE facilities. The core of this conflict isn't just a protest; it goes back to a broken promise and massive government overreach.

The Breakdown:

Broken Agreement: ICE has repeatedly violated a 2011 land agreement with the city of Portland. This agreement specifies the maximum amount of time immigrants can be held in certain facilities. ICE has reportedly broken this rule 25 times now.

Lack of Cooperation: Portland local police have reportedly refused to cooperate with ICE officials due to these violations.

Trump's Response: Instead of addressing the violations, President Trump authorized the deployment of full federal force to shut down the protests. He labeled the protestors as "domestic terrorists" and ANTIFA; claims reportedly made by the police but which lack evidence, especially given the small scale of the protests.

This escalation is a clear example of government overreach that completely disregards local agreements and only serves to increase conflict and chaos on the ground. This will likely lead to more unnecessary injury and confrontation.

If you live in or near Portland, por favor, be safe. Keep an eye out for one another.

This past week, as the government shutdown began, Republicans resorted to a predictable and dishonest tactic: using immigrants as a scapegoat to blame Democrats.

In a move that should surprise no one, President Trump tweeted that Democrats were attempting to give healthcare money to "illegal aliens" and that this would lead to "everyone will come."

The Reality Check: When confronted with the facts, that undocumented immigrants are actually ineligible for these health care subsidies, Trump completely dodged the question. Instead of engaging with the truth, he simply doubled down on the usual, dehumanizing propaganda directed at migrants in this country.

The true priorities for our nation were perfectly highlighted by Bernie Sanders in his video response to the shutdown. He reminded us that the real issues our government should be focused on are the critical social inequities we continue to face: income, housing, education, and healthcare.

La migra and fear-mongering are distractions. These core social issues are the true focus required to uplift communities across the U.S.

This past week, the President’s social media activity went beyond typical political attacks and veered straight into the bizarre.

He started the week by posting AI-generated videos of Democratic leaders wearing sombreros. This isn't satire; it's just bizarre and culturally insensitive. But instead of backing down, he started doubling down, posting multiple videos; one of which bizarrely showed a "Trump 2028" logo.

Let me be clear: This is not normal. This is not presidential.

Regardless of your politics, this is not how someone in power, especially the most powerful person in the United States, should be behaving. Posting bizarre, low-effort, and inflammatory AI content is beneath the office.

I don't know if this signals something about the President's mental state, but I believe even his most loyal supporters should be standing against this kind of behavior. This continuous lowering of standards is not normal, and it is absolutely not okay.

This week, the Trump Administration made an alarming move, essentially holding federal funding over the heads of universities to dictate policy.

The deal offered to five universities was this: sign a ten-page contract to receive millions in federal funds, or risk losing significant existing funding.

The catch? The administration's contract demands massive changes to campus policy:

While signing offers priority access to large amounts of federal research funding, the fear is clear: signing this pledge now will pave the way for continued, escalating demands from the administration, forcing universities to align with a specific conservative agenda. This is a terrifying path toward eroding academic freedom.

The good news is that there is resistance. Gavin Newsom has already stated that California schools that sign on to these restrictive demands would risk losing millions in State funding. Let's hope more state leaders follow suit and stand up against this blatant political overreach into higher education.

The violence being displayed by federal agents is getting worse, and it is now actively harming members of our community, including U.S. citizens and minors.

This past week, a video from the Chicago area went viral that is deeply sad to watch: federal agents are seen firing pepper balls at a 16-year-old boy. The teen was reportedly just trying to hand over luggage for his father. This showcases just how violent these agents are, proving that even someone not creating any harm is in danger of being seriously injured.

But the abuse didn't stop there.

Reports have surfaced about a massive, militarized ICE raid on an apartment complex in Chicago’s South Shore neighborhood. During the middle of the night, adults and children were detained and zip-tied. Residents who experienced this raid stated they were treated like “nothing,” with one ICE agent reportedly saying, “F* them kids.”**

Among those detained in the raid were U.S. citizens, including an individual who is a veteran. After they were eventually released, they returned to find their homes heavily searched and their property severely damaged.

This is the full force of the government's militarization being unleashed on our neighborhoods. It is unconscionable, and it is unacceptable.