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Opinion | Behind Trump’s deportation theatre lies an American tragedy
Far from instilling security, the raids produce fear and outrage, damage the economy and social cohesion, and leave America’s name in tatters
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The streets of Los Angeles have erupted in recent days, manifesting deep-seated tensions triggered by US President Donald Trump’s aggressive immigration policies. Sparked by high-profile Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids across the city, targeting workplaces and even prompting the arrest of a prominent union leader, thousands have taken to the streets in protest.
Mayor Karen Bass has condemned the actions: “When you raid Home Depots and workplaces, when you tear parents and children apart, and when you run armoured caravans through our streets, you’re not trying to keep anyone safe. You’re trying to cause fear and panic.”
California governor Gavin Newsom has engaged in a sharp verbal and legal clash with Trump, criticising his decision to deploy National Guard troops and the Marines to help the raids and quell the protests, denouncing it as an “unnecessary provocation” and a “brazen abuse of power”.
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Trump, in turn, defended his intervention, calling Newsom “incompetent” and claiming federal forces were necessary amid a “rebellion”.
These demonstrations and the political clashes underscore a critical reality: Trump’s approach to immigration has transformed US border and interior enforcement into a jarring spectacle, prioritising displays of force over effective, humane policy.
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This theatrical enforcement, far from instilling security, primarily generates fear and outrage, and leaves the system straining to meet unrealistic deportation targets even as America’s global reputation rapidly deteriorates.
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