US anti-immigrant crackdowns

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Anti-immigrant protests and crackdowns in the US have seen a significant uptick recently, as the country reels from an aggressive new wave of immigration enforcement. What began as isolated demonstrations in Los Angeles following sweeping ICE raids has rapidly morphed into a nationwide outcry, with protests erupting in at least 35 cities.

Organisers have called the raids unconstitutional and dehumanising — and with over 1,800 protests expected this weekend, the unrest is a clear signal that millions of Americans refuse to stay silent as their country drifts further into the grip of far-right authoritarianism.

At the centre of this crisis is President Donald Trump whose return to power has emboldened a hardline approach to immigration that blurs the line between civil enforcement and military intervention. In a controversial move, Trump has authorised the deployment of US Marines to assist ICE operations. While the Pentagon insists that the Marines are only providing logistical support, the symbolism being drawn is that immigrants are a national security threat.

This escalation does not exist in a vacuum. It comes amid a broader global shift toward anti-immigrant sentiment, stoked further by the ongoing Israel-Palestine war. As images of displacement and violence flood global media, political leaders in the West are increasingly positioning migrants — especially those from Muslim-majority countries — as potential threats to justify harsher border controls and mass deportations.

Trump's policies also reflect this dangerous ideology. His playbook is built on division, targeting the vulnerable to rally a loyal, nationalist base. In doing so, he is redefining the American identity in exclusionary terms.

However, the surge in protests shows that many Americans see through the fear-mongering. They understand that what's at stake is far greater than immigration policy. If the US normalises military-backed crackdowns on migrants, it will send a dangerous message to other democracies already leaning toward authoritarianism.