The current administration has been frantically trying to deport anyone and everyone under the sun if they’re even the least bit “undocumented-looking” in its cold, ICE-y eyes. That even goes for people brought into the United States against their will, apparently, as D.C. officials have flown in a Belarusian woman charged with smuggling over $2 million worth of US equipment to Russia. But instead of facing proper prosecution, this foreign criminal might be deported by ICE before her trial even starts.
According to a report by The Washington Post, ICE has been given so much leeway by the Trump administration that now international prosecutions like this one are getting chaotic, with immigration officials pushing for her to be deported. It’s utter madness that government offices are at odds with each other for something like this. That said, a magistrate judge has a few choice words for ICE and the feds’ predicament with this Belarusian:
“Indeed, it is both preposterous and offensive for the government to bring someone into the United States against their will and then turn around and seek ICE detention because that person is here ‘illegally.’ The government needs to decide what its priorities are: ginning up deportation stats or prosecuting alleged criminals.”
The woman told the D.C. court judge that she doesn’t want to go to a detention facility, as being separated from her attorney would make things even more complicated than in jail, not to mention the horror stories of how ICE treats detained immigrants. Clearly, what she did was wrong, and she deserves a fair trial to be judged for her crime. However, “It’s unbelievable we’re even having these conversations,” the judge remarked, referring to how deportation before the trial is simply nonsensical.
The judge isn’t the only one who thinks this whole situation is ridiculous; plenty of users online share a similar sentiment. “Banana republic- this republic is bananas,” says a Redditor. “It hurt itself in its confusion,” joked another. “The Trump administration is screwing up the prosecution of someone who aided Russia by smuggling parts for them. Wow, so crazy, who could have seen that coming?” laughs a third.
