205 Comments
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Linda Myers's avatar

This is what this country has become thanks to people who don’t care about anything but guns, money, racism, spite and hatred. It’s disgraceful and sickening.

Merry's avatar

This information literally makes me sick to my stomach. And what makes this whole situation even more disturbing and more despicable is this: “Trump’s budget bill benefits private immigration detention companies that donated to Trump”.

“President Trump’s budget bill, the “One Big, Beautiful Bill Act” allocates $45 billion for ICE to pay private contractors to implement mass detention of immigrants, paving the way for a huge windfall to companies that donated big to support Trump. In total, the two largest private immigration detention companies, CoreCivic and GEO Group, and their subsidiaries and executives, donated nearly $2.8 million to Trump’s 2024 election efforts and inaugural fund, according to a CREW analysis of FEC data.

“90% of immigration detention in the U.S. is done by private, for-profit corporations that have multi–million dollar contracts with ICE. Expanding the Trump administration’s promised mass deportation of immigrants will depend on further reliance on those companies—and on targeting immigrants who are not criminals.

“Since Trump’s inauguration, private ICE detention contractors such as Core Civic and GEO Group have already benefited financially through no-bid detention facility contracts. On April 7, ICE issued a $45 billion Request for Proposals by private contractors to increase capacity for people to be detained. Even before Congress passed the budget bill, by the end of June CoreCivic and GEO Group had already been awarded nine new or expanded contracts, and reopened facilities such as Delaney Hall in New Jersey (run by GEO) and the Dilley and Karnes family detention centers in Texas (run by CoreCivic and GEO).

And who’s holding these companies accountable?

Full story -

https://www.citizensforethics.org/reports-investigations/crew-investigations/trumps-budget-bill-benefits-private-immigration-detention-companies-that-donated-to-trump/#:~:text=President%20Trump's%20budget%20bill%2C%20the,for%20people%20to%20be%20detained.

patti smith's avatar

Such a good point! These contract institutes are not at all up to decent standards and the regime needs to be held accountable for the abuses, instead of enriching themselves and their cronies.

Merry's avatar

Yep. Trump, and republicans in general, support deregulation and privatization. And trump has defunded or closed many regulatory agencies by executive order. In fact, that’s was part of the DOGE / Musk assignment. This is some of them. And the PBS article gives a thorough assessment.

Department of Health and Human Services

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Food Safety and Inspection Service

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Federal Emergency Management Agency

Environmental Protection Agency

Department of Veterans Affairs

https://federalnewsnetwork.com/unions/2025/08/draft-here-are-the-agencies-that-have-canceled-collective-bargaining-so-far/

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/46-programs-trump-wants-to-eliminate-according-to-his-proposed-budget

https://www.citizensforethics.org/reports-investigations/crew-investigations/what-you-need-to-know-about-doge-and-the-limits-of-its-authority/

ajay ess's avatar

thank you for never letting the truth disappear. appreciate your excellent comment. RESIST. VIVA LA RESISTENCIA. VIVE LA RESISTANCE. SAMUD.

to everyone out there.....JOIN US, ESPECIALLY IF YOU WISH YOU’D NEVER VOTED FOR DONALD TRUMP AND TRUMP REPUBLICANS

patti smith's avatar

Me shaking my head in dismay...

Merry's avatar

Me nodding in agreement..”😢

ajay ess's avatar

the truth is very disturbing, but it MUST ALWAYS BE PRESENTED. thank you for this comment. VIVA LA RESISTENCIA. VIVE LA RESISTANCE. SAMUD. RESIST!

PW's avatar
Dec 21Edited

One of your very best pieces. Cuts to the heart of the matter. No hiding the facts. This needs amplifying and you did it. Having been briefly in a similar situation, I know my privilege was what saved my life. It had nothing to do with immigration so that your description cuts my heart when you project how much worse it is unto DEATH. Thank you for “being annoying” about this and never stop. YOUR VOICE on this subject is important. Thank you.

Jeff Lazar's avatar

So sad about what our country has become.

So sickened by the people who are enabling this.

So hopeful that a time for punishment comes for them.

Al S's avatar

Looking forward to our Nuremberg style of accountability - if we survive the next 3 years...

Altamama2's avatar

hopefully sooner rather than later.....

Slowly, but Shirley's avatar

But first, freedom for those wrongfully detained, and humane conditions for those who must remain in custody.

Susanna J. Sturgis's avatar

What makes me sad, and mad, is that so many privileged white people didn't see it coming till Trump came along, and some didn't catch on till Trump II. Neither did too much of the Democratic Party, whose leaders kept marginalizing those who *did* get it.

We've been building toward this at least since Reagan. Remember the gutting of unions, the huge tax breaks for corporations, the trashing of Black people? Remember the sharp rightward, anti-democratic turn of the Republican Party, and especially the rise of Newt Gingri(n)ch?

patti smith's avatar

And so sad for how it is way too late for many of them!

Martha Kenne's avatar

Spot on Jeff. I was just talking about this with my daughter-in-law. I am 68. What would dad have thought about our current country?

Linde Liu's avatar

Defund ICE! ICE is a terrorist organization acting on behalf of a criminal enterprise!

Billions of taxpayer dollars are better spent on healthcare, education, housing, childhood nutrition!

Connie Larsen's avatar

Get rid of nasty noem!

Merry's avatar

Yes. This information literally makes me sick to my stomach. And what makes this whole situation even more disturbing and more despicable is this: “Trump’s budget bill benefits private immigration detention companies that donated to Trump”.

“President Trump’s budget bill, the “One Big, Beautiful Bill Act” allocates $45 billion for ICE to pay private contractors to implement mass detention of immigrants, paving the way for a huge windfall to companies that donated big to support Trump. In total, the two largest private immigration detention companies, CoreCivic and GEO Group, and their subsidiaries and executives, donated nearly $2.8 million to Trump’s 2024 election efforts and inaugural fund, according to a CREW analysis of FEC data.

And who’s holding these companies accountable?

Full story -

https://www.citizensforethics.org/reports-investigations/crew-investigations/trumps-budget-bill-benefits-private-immigration-detention-companies-that-donated-to-trump/#:~:text=President%20Trump's%20budget%20bill%2C%20the,for%20people%20to%20be%20detained.

Julianne Clark's avatar

So gratified to be a resident of (Seattle) Washington with political representation that matters from Pramila Jayapal and Patty Murray!

Connie Larsen's avatar

With you Julianne! Feel sorry for Arkansas, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma n those poorly governed, poorly educated! There senators n representatives have their heads so far up trams 🍊🫏, it’s embarrassing! Think any of them made jokes about tramp, till he was elected???

Julianne Clark's avatar

I'm in Pramila's district!

patti smith's avatar

Yes! I also live in WA and thank God for it.

Jody Mendes's avatar

And maga “Christians” don’t seem to remember anything the “Savior” they claim to worship charged them to do.

Care for the poor, widows and orphans, feed the hungry, heal/care for the sick, give water to them that thirst, **welcome the stranger** and visit those in prison. 🫩😵‍💫🥵

WJB Motown's avatar

Christian Nationalism teaches the exact opposite of Jesus's new covenant. It is a cult based on control....false interpretation of scripture.......hatred of women and anything other than being white.

Maggot Christianity is a Satanic Orange Taco Cult.

Jody Mendes's avatar

Something else they conveniently forget is that Jesus was a poor, dark skinned, middle Eastern refugee, a practicing Jew who offered another path to “at-one-ment” with God.

Hellfire and an angry God make it easier to control the cult. **Please Note: This is NOT AN ANTI SEMITIC COMMENT: The Hebrew Bible or Torah is a valid and historic interpretation of God’s laws at that time and that place. It still applies today. NO DISRESPECT HERE WHATSOEVER. It’s “Christian Nationalists” who have abused the Hebrew Bible/Torah for their own selfish purposes.

WJB Motown's avatar

So sick of "walking on eggshells" while Israel wipes the Palestinian people off the face of the planet. Within hours...peace could replace the carnage.

The actual teaching of Jesus have been tossed aside. Your "Hellfire and an angry God" are all twisted...out of context bogus..."thoughts and prayers."

Jody Mendes's avatar

I’m truly over that as well. As recently as 2015, I made a statement to my (highly educated but sadly brainwashed by Faux “news”) mom about Gaza and the unfortunate policies of Israel/Netenyahu.

It was something benign like, “Well the Arabs were actually there first and had a sophisticated society with cities, banks, schools, etc.”… She cut me off somewhere before “…sophisticated society” and said, I’m not going to listen to that, Jo, it’s just pure antisemitism!” 🙄 BTW, she’s not even Jewish. We were raised in a very progressive Christian Church (it was the 60’s and early 70’s). She held moderate but progressive views- pro choice, pro LGBTQ- it was probably just LB back then 😉.

Along came Faux, Limbaugh, O’Reilly, Beck and blah blah blah… little by little she began to see things differently. She’s still pro choice and pro Gay rights but foreign policy, economic policy and etc. not so much.

Sorry for the ADHD tangent… my frustration with the hyper sensitive anti-Palestine attitude/behavior. “Walking on eggshells” is a good description. I know some moderate and some secular Jews and even some Messianic Jews. No objections from most of them. The “secular” (non practicing) Jews can get pretty defensive.

Jody Mendes's avatar

She’s 92 now so we no longer discuss politics. When Roe was overturned she was stunned. I said, “I’ve been telling you to stop voting Republican”. We haven’t discussed it since.

WJB Motown's avatar

Sadly, I have heard tales of life long couples going to their graves fighting about politics. So you are not alone. You have to make self-care and your personal health the priority.......if you don't they will take you down with them and not bat an eye.

I lost my mother to a fucked up narcissitic father who sucked the life out of her. That is what Donut Boy is now doing to an entire nation.

Taco Tits has turned the entire "Grand Old Pedophile" party into the Orange Zoo of flying monkeys and sycophants

WJB Motown's avatar

Faux Lies has eroded peoples minds and obliterated peoples morals and empathy. With you on having to cut off friends and family. I tell brainwashed right wingers to Fuck themselves and exit forever.

Once you flust the shit down the toilet.....you make room for positive energy and good things.......like MTN......and my hero girls on IHIPNEWS. ( I am having my coffee in my treasured I'VE HAD IT mug.)

Jesus took on the old school Jewish leaders who did not accept the new covenant. As I have said often.....John Fugelsangs NYTimes bestseller "Separation of Church and Hate" is the go to for exposing fake Christian Nationalism. I would just be repeating his words continuing here.

Jody Mendes's avatar

Yes! Exactly. And even old yam tits says he probably 🫩😵‍💫 “ won’t get into heaven”. Yeah, nope!

Snoozer's avatar

I firmly believe MAGA “unchristians” are Old Testament creationists.

Al S's avatar

They will bastardize the bible to make it say what they want it to say. Very Christian.

Cynthia Turner's avatar

Exactly, Jodi. While reading, I was thinking of all the children and elderly who need help. Families who can not afford food and to keep their homes warm. Congress needs to get to work and open their eyes to American needs.

Jody Mendes's avatar

And little Mikey Johnson is SUCH a “Man of God” 😵‍💫🙄

James Coyle's avatar

The for-profit prison system needs to be dismantled. Now. If we want to put this many people in prison, we should be paying for it directly with our tax dollars. And maybe if we do that, we will start to reconsider the types of crimes that require imprisonment. Perhaps we will start to think about crimes that necessitate imprisonment for reasons of public safety, as opposed to mandatory sentencing for non-violent crimes.

solnichka (CA, MI, CO, OR, WA)'s avatar

If this happened to a family member of mine, I'd be suing the hell out of Trump, Miller, et al, individually for major damages. They are murderers.

PW's avatar
Dec 21Edited

I can attest to how difficult it is to do. There are many local and federal procedures which must be followed to the letter or the case can easily be thrown out on a technicality. Then there is the new immunity and the unwillingness of the DOJ to follow the law. The monetary cost can be stunning as is the emotional strain. Such a case can take years, and that’s if you can even find a lawyer willing to take the case. I can only imagine a family who has to deal with so much trying to navigate even a part of that not to mention the additional pressure on top of the grief for any kids. I hope more people step up to help. There are only a finite number of people doing this work in the US and their caseload is huge. The whole legal system is stacked against the victim to prove their innocence instead of the burden being on the gov to prove guilt now. We’re all supposed to be presumed innocent but the current fascism is wiping out the basic tenants of law on which our country was built. I hope they can bring the cases, but it is the government that is supposed to address accountability, not act as the whole weight of the government against the individual (such as Michael Cohen had to deal with). I hope our country can quickly turn around the power structure and attitude to hold these thugs with a badge (or face mask) accountable. IMHO they’re criminals locking up good people.

Al S's avatar

As dumbshit and his attack dog bondi have figured out, they don't necessarily need a

conviction to inflict punishment. Just bringing charges causes much financial and emotional harm.

PW's avatar

Exactly! 💯

This is an article on exactly that, about how that is their tool in all their operations to hurt people. https://open.substack.com/pub/wendy664/p/they-can-empty-your-bank-account?r=59uub&utm_medium=ios&shareImageVariant=overlay

Al S's avatar

Thanks PW. Hope we never find ourselves in the "jackpot". What a nightmare.

ajay ess's avatar

that is trumps de facto approach to everything and is confirmed by all his legal actions throughout his pathetic privileged life..... Deny. delay. Depose. and all that usually results in the bankruptcy of the plaintiff and the case crumbles and is dismissed. our so-called justice system is stacked in favour of the rich, and particularly the rich white people. WE HAVE NO EQUAL JUSTICE IN THIS COUNTRY.

thank you for your great comment...we all need reminding of the way the government and the wealthy manipulate our 'justice' system...

Phil Burns's avatar

Why does it have to be a family member? Sue them for cruel and unusual punishment.

Skip A Thorp's avatar

Every member of ICEstapo involved with this bullshit should be held accountable.

gayle gibson's avatar

Thank you for clear writing and passion.

dzkomom's avatar

Inexcusable! 😡

Linda Ann Robinson's avatar

I read articles like this and I become very sad for the men who died in custody. I feel shame for the nation we have become.

Nancy Kather's avatar

It is worse than shameful. Our current government are cruel, evil, and deplorable!

Lisa B's avatar

We are a disgrace.

Ilene Bilenky's avatar

Who are the agencies or politicians to call/support on this issue?

Merry's avatar

Despicable. Abhorrent.

“President Trump’s budget bill, the “One Big, Beautiful Bill Act” allocates $45 billion for ICE to pay private contractors to implement mass detention of immigrants, paving the way for a huge windfall to companies that donated big to support Trump. In total, the two largest private immigration detention companies, CoreCivic and GEO Group, and their subsidiaries and executives, donated nearly $2.8 million to Trump’s 2024 election efforts and inaugural fund, according to a CREW analysis of FEC data.

“90% of immigration detention in the U.S. is done by private, for-profit corporations that have multi–million dollar contracts with ICE. Expanding the Trump administration’s promised mass deportation of immigrants will depend on further reliance on those companies—and on targeting immigrants who are not criminals.

“Since Trump’s inauguration, private ICE detention contractors such as Core Civic and GEO Group have already benefited financially through no-bid detention facility contracts. On April 7, ICE issued a $45 billion Request for Proposals by private contractors to increase capacity for people to be detained.“

This is one of the organizations that appears to be watchdogging this issue …

Full article…

https://www.citizensforethics.org/reports-investigations/crew-investigations/trumps-budget-bill-benefits-private-immigration-detention-companies-that-donated-to-trump/#:~:text=President%20Trump's%20budget%20bill%2C%20the,for%20people%20to%20be%20detained.

Ilene Bilenky's avatar

I just donated to the group you listed. I don't believe in venting, but acting. Will call my R rep. on this. Thank you for listing.

Donald Sinclair Richardson's avatar

Couple this with our expanding surveillance State growth and you have the future no one wants except Fascists and Tech Bros.