Los Angeles: Donald Trump's calculated escalation
Struggling to pass a budget bill that promises to further deepen the huge federal deficit, contrary to his commitments and those of the Republican Party, the US president has returned to familiar territory: the fight against immigration and the restoration of order, by force if necessary, on which he believes he has the support of a majority of his fellow citizens.
The choice to militarize law enforcement recalls the authoritarian tendencies Trump made little secret of during his first term. At that time, he was dissuaded from using the military against protesters by more moderate voices around him, voices he took care to remove upon his return to the White House. But the escalation sought by the president is a disservice to the cause he claims to defend.
Making the numbers
The Democratic Party paid dearly for its inaction on immigration, which, along with concerns about the cost of living, contributed significantly to the defeat of its presidential candidate, Kamala Harris. However, the tactic of using force and making bold statements is unlikely to enable the US to achieve the essential immigration reform that has been lacking for decades.
The decline in irregular entries into the US that began during the final months of Joe Biden's presidency has reached levels not seen in two decades since Trump returned to the White House. These results contradicted the rhetoric decrying an "invasion." However, the number of deportations has so far remained comparable to that under the previous administration, explaining the increasingly aggressive stance of the immigration police, who have been ordered to increase their numbers.
A year ago, Trump successfully pressured Republicans in the Senate to block a compromise reached with their Democratic counterparts. This agreement would have favored tough measures, such as strengthening border police resources, increasing detention center capacities, speeding up asylum request procedures and providing greater means to deport people whose requests were denied. Democrats even abandoned their demand to regularize migrants who had arrived in the US as minors and who are now fully integrated into American society.
That opportunity was missed. The issue of immigration remains hostage to posturing that prevents a calm assessment of what it means for the US economy and society.
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