“ICE agents shooting people in the back, in the head, on the streets—these mass raids look like hunting animals,” said Tomasz Płudowski, an American studies expert, referring to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations.
His remarks followed the killing of two people by federal immigration officers in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in January—Renee Good and Alex Pretti—prompting widespread protests and renewed scrutiny of ICE nationwide.
Płudowski suggested the heavy-handed tactics could be a calculated move to incite unrest.
“Some believe the goal is to trigger greater riots, increase polarization, and create grounds for a state of emergency—justifying an extension of Donald Trump’s term and delaying elections,” he said.
The killings have also raised concerns among Republicans, he noted, especially because Pretti—one of the victims—was a legally armed nurse caring for veterans.
“This directly contradicts Republican values,” Płudowski said.
He added that the administration’s criticism of Pretti’s firearm ownership has drawn backlash from the powerful National Rifle Association, potentially influencing Trump’s rhetoric on the matter.
Looking ahead to November’s midterm elections, Płudowski noted that presidents historically struggle in such contests.
“Trump may hand both chambers to the Democrats unless something changes—leading to a political standoff,” he said, predicting Trump could then bypass Congress and govern by executive order.
On the 2028 presidential race, Płudowski dismissed Vice President Kamala Harris’s chances, citing her 2024 defeat to Trump.
“The Democrats’ image is still too elitist to win over the middle class,” he said.
(jh/gs)
Source: PAP