If the Mississippi ICE Raids Were About 'The Law,' Why Were No Executives Marched Out in Cuffs?

Being our semi-regular weekly survey of what's goin' down in the several states where, as we know, the real work of governmentin' gets done and where up the street, the dogs are barking.

Ah, Mississippi. How would you have known that, in so many ways, the whole country would come around to your old way of thinking? From the Jackson Clarion-Ledger:

The raids, planned months ago, happened just hours before President Donald Trump was scheduled to visit El Paso, Texas, the majority-Latino city where a man linked to an online screed about a "Hispanic invasion" was charged in a shooting that left 22 people dead in the border city. Workers filled three buses — two for men and one for women — at a Koch Foods Inc. plant in tiny Morton, 40 miles east of Jackson. They were taken to a military hangar to be processed for immigration violations. About 70 family, friends and residents waved goodbye and shouted, "Let them go! Let them go!" Later, two more buses arrived.

A tearful 13-year-old boy whose parents are from Guatemala waved goodbye to his mother, a Koch worker, as he stood beside his father. Some employees tried to flee on foot but were captured in the parking lot. Workers who were confirmed to have legal status were allowed to leave the plant after having their trunks searched.

Matthew Albence, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's acting director, told The Associated Press that the raids could be the largest such operation thus far in any single state. Asked to comment on the fact that the raid was happening on the same day as Trump's El Paso visit, Albence responded, "This is a long-term operation that's been going on. Our enforcement operations are being done on a racially neutral basis. Investigations are based on evidence."

Right, and I am the Tsar of all the Russias. Why, you may ask, were no executives of the companies who hired these people frog-marched out of their workplaces after almost 700 of their most vulnerable workers were frog-marched out of theirs? Silly you. It is only the "aliens" who are criminals. Ask future Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves, if you need clarification.

However, other conservative politicians shared Bryant's views including Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves and U.S Rep. Steven Palazzo. Hood and Reeves are running for governor this year. "Glad to see that ICE is working hard to enforce our immigration laws," Reeves said in a Wednesday tweet, "680 aliens detained in Mississippi today. We must enforce our laws, for the safety of all Americans."

No white executives or managers were arrested at the plants, becuase it’s about The Law. A MASON/ICE/HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

And the local US Attorney, a Trump hireling named Mike Hurst, took this opportunity to flex for the cameras. From the Jackson Free Press:

"While we are a nation of immigrants, more than that we are first and foremost, a nation of laws. The rule of law is the bedrock, the very foundation of our great country. Without law, there is no order. Without the enforcement of law, there is no justice," said Hurst, whom Donald Trump nominated to the post in 2017. "...For those who take advantage of illegal aliens, to those who use illegal aliens for competitive advantage or to make a quick buck, we have something to say to you. If we find that you have violated federal criminal law, we're coming after you."

That last part is a real hoot, considering that ICE declined to identify the specific processing plants that were raided. After all, who's going to keep us safe from hundreds of suddenly orphaned children, many of whom the desperate state child-welfare system can't even locate. Again, from the Clarion-Ledger:

As of Thursday morning, the state agency did not know how many children were impacted by Wednesday's raids. "We've been up all night trying to figure this out," said Lea Anne Brandon, MDCPS spokesperson. Miles did not know how many women were detained and released, saying the main focus in the community was on the children affected... Miles said both local businesses and churches offered an outpouring of support to make sure that children didn't come back from their first day of school to an empty house. "Our concern was that those babies were taken care of," Miles said.

Later, ICE announced that it had released 300 of the 680 detainees, which is less than half, but better than nothing. However, by all accounts, this draconian show of force hit the small towns on which it was unleashed with the force of a Gulf hurricane. The invaluable Ashton Pittman of the Jackson Free Press has a fine account of the immediate impact of the raids.

MIRA organizer Luis Espinoza traveled to Canton on Wednesday to help families trying to pick up the pieces and figure out what to do next, Chandler said. ICE agents attempted to arrest at least one U.S. citizen at the plant in Canton, Chandler reported. "In Canton, there was a young man who was working there that protested the arrests because he was an American citizen," Chandler said. "And they tased him, knocked him to the ground, and put handcuffs on him before they finally figured out that he was an American citizen."

Ross Barnett would be so proud. And, by the way, in case there's any confusion, this is who we are, at least at the moment.

We move on to Ohio, and we would be remiss in our semi-regular weekly survey if we did not take note of State Representative Candace Keller, who is now Intertoobz-famous for being eight walnuts short of a salad. Representative Keller shared some thoughts on Facebook about how we have come to this terrible pass regarding mass shootings in this country. Let her explain, you heathen bastids. From The Root:

The breakdown of the traditional American family (thank you, transgender, homosexual marriage, and drag queen advocates); fatherlessness, a subject no one discuses or believes is relevant; the ignoring of violent video games; the relaxing of laws against criminals (open borders); the acceptance of recreational marijuana; failed school policies (hello parents who defend misbehaving students); disrespect to law enforcement (thank you, Obama); hatred of our veterans (thank you, professional athletes who hate our flag and National Anthem); the Dem Congress, many members whom are open anti-Semitic; the culture, which totally ignores the importance of God and the church (until they elect a President); state officeholders, who have no interest whatsoever in learning about our Constitution and the Second Amendement; and snowflakes, who can’t accept a duly-elected President...Did I forget anybody? The list is long. And the fury will continue.”

I understand the Grammar Police have put out a BOLO for Keller on a charge of Criminal Abuse of Parentheses. I hope they catch her before the guys with the nets do.

Candice Keller provides a glimpse into the conservative brain. The Ohio House of Representatives

And we conclude, as is our custom, in the great state of Oklahoma, where Blog Official Feral Hog Translator Friedman of the Plains warns all you varmints and miscreants and North Korean special-forces units to by god steer clear of Ada. From KFOR News:

“Hopefully, we never have to use this machine for anything other than training,” Capt. Jason Potter, with the Ada Police Department, told KXII. “It’s always been one of my philosophies is, it’s better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.”

Authorities say the vehicle could be used in situations where a suspect is armed, such as high-risk search warrants and hostage situations. Officials say it could also be used during natural disasters. “We could load fire, EMS in the back of this and go in and start rescuing people while other officers are there taking care of business and the actual problem,” Potter said. Potter said the vehicle costs about $80,000, but the department only paid $2,500 through the Law Enforcement Support Program.

There are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in your philosophies, Chief Potter. For example, there's a certain sense of overcompensation.

This is your democracy, America. Cherish it.

Respond to this post on the Esquire Politics Facebook page here.