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You’ve Heard About Who ICE Is Recruiting. The Truth Is Far Worse. I’m the Proof. (slate.com)

submitted 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) by silence7@slrpnk.net to c/news@lemmy.world

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I skipped the steps of the application process that would have clued the agency in on my lack of fitness for the position. I made no effort to hide my public loathing of the agency, what it stands for, and the administration that runs it. And they offered me the job anyway.

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[-] IamSparticles@lemmy.zip 242 points 3 months ago

I found this bit very telling:

The officer ran down other departments I might end up in: Prosecutions, Removal Coordination Unit, or Detention. The point being that I should not expect to be a badass street officer on Day 1. “I have so many guys that come over to me, they’re like, ‘I’m gonna put cuffs on somebody. I’m gonna arrest somebody.’ Well, you need to master this first and then we’ll see about getting you on the field.”

I told him that I was fine with office work—with my analyst background, it seemed like a better fit for my skill set anyway. His attitude shift was subtle, but instant and unmistakable; this was the wrong attitude and the wrong answer. “Just to be upfront, the goal is to put as many guns and badges out in the field as possible,” he said.

"Don't expect to be beating heads on day one. But if beating heads isn't what you're signing up for, you're probably not who we want."

[-] unexposedhazard@discuss.tchncs.de 90 points 3 months ago

The agent then told me a bit about his own background. Like me, he enlisted straight out of high school, then got out and vowed to get as far away from the violence of the military as possible. Like a lot of veterans, he had trouble assimilating into the civilian world. “After about six months, I was like, ‘These people aren’t like me. I want to be around like-minded people.’ ” He found his way into law enforcement.

This also stood out to me. People ive had discussions with have often tried to argue that the military is not as bad and that ACAB doesnt apply to military veterans. Fuck no. Active military deployment turns people into fucking ghouls that are incompatible with society. Some people turning out well (like the author) is just the exception to the rule.

[-] Branch_Ranch@lemmy.world 41 points 3 months ago

2x Combat vet here. Yeah, you're not wrong. I have grown to despise many of the guys I've deployed with. I see their posts on FB and am to the point I really want to call them out and publicly shame them. I feel like I'm a unicorn, I've gotten more and more leftie as I get older and have shunned my military past. Just my two cents. Fuck trump and fuck ICE.

[-] moonshadow@slrpnk.net 3 points 3 months ago

I've noticed it seems to polarize people. A lot of the best (and worst) people I deal with are ex-military or convicts. Wake or break type deal, they seem to come out hardened and inspired to resist or broken enough to fit the mold perfectly. Sorry about your service.

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this post was submitted on 13 Jan 2026

701 points (99.3% liked)

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