Targeting Migrants

Trump's language is as always, political, and provocative, when he promises that he would, 'send elite squads of ICE, Border Patrol, and federal law enforcement officers to hunt down, arrest, and deport every last illegal alien gang member until there is not a single one left in this country.' Factors like financial costs, operationalizing intent, or even implications on the economy are not on the table for now, for it is only bravado that seemingly suffices for Trump's limited purpose

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Illegal immigration is a much-bandied topic in democracies, for it is very easy to invoke politically and ignite emotions, but complex to handle meaningfully.

While failure to check illegal immigration is a failure of the State and its agencies, the rhetoric against it is almost invariably partisan, racial, or communal. In democracies, the State rarely ever acknowledges its own failings and prefers blaming the 'opposition' for wrong policies.

The fact is that no political party in the world can constitutionally or legally encourage illegal immigration – the difference, if any, is in the means of handling the issue and the rhetoric that accompanies it.

There are always two distinct undercurrents around the issue of illegal immigrants – the first is of the State to protect its citizens from the pernicious impact of illegal immigrants, and the second of a humanitarian angle.

Instead of focusing on plugging gaps, investing in and ensuring proper enforcement of laws governing illegal immigration – the narrative usually regresses into fear-mongering, xenophobia and reckless solutions that hardly do anything to curb illegal immigration, but instead poison, polarise and weaponise the environment.

If the issue of Rohingyas inflamed emotions in India, the issue of migrants from conflict-ridden Middle Eastern countries or economically strapped African countries, grips Europe. Even immigrants from war-torn Ukraine are swamping other European countries.

Now, there is the latest militaristic plan to deport up to 15–20 million allegedly illegal immigrants (number not backed by any authority) by US President-elect, Donald Trump that has raised eyebrows.