The Dark Legacy of 9/11: The Rise of a Turbulent Immigration System in the United States

The aftermath of the September 11 attacks in 2001 marked a significant turning point in the history of immigration in the United States. The creation of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with sweeping powers to enforce immigration laws has had far-reaching consequences, transforming the lives of both documented and undocumented immigrants, as well as many US citizens. The system, now frequently criticized for its cruelties and inefficiencies, began to take shape in the months following the attacks.

Key Takeaways:

• The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was established in 2002 with the mission to "protect the American homeland" from terrorist threats, vastly expanding the US security state.
• The Homeland Security Act of 2002 and the Patriot Act gave the federal government sweeping new powers of surveillance and detention, leading to the creation of agencies like Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
• Deportations or "removals" of immigrants living in the US spiked, doubling from about 211,000 in 2003 to a peak of more than 432,000 by 2013, under the Trump administration.
• The Secure Communities program, first piloted by the Bush administration in 2008, allowed jails to submit fingerprints of anyone arrested to federal criminal databases and immigration agencies, leading to more than 500,000 deportations in the decade after its enactment.
• Immigration authorities have adopted a plethora of new surveillance technologies, including facial recognition, biometric data collection, and military-grade equipment, such as assault rifles and armoured personnel carriers.
• Arab and Muslim Americans, as well as other residents, have been disproportionately affected by the tightening of America's borders, with many experiencing extra screening at airports, random checks, and arrest by ICE.

Statistics:

• Over 400,000 immigrants were deported due to immigration enforcement efforts from 2013 to 2019.
• In 2018, a record 455,980 immigrants were removed or deported from the United States.
• ICE conducted over 100 mass deportations in 2019 alone.
• The 2020 federal budget allocated over $40 billion for "immigration enforcement" efforts.

Sources:

• The Immigrant Defense Project, an organization that provides legal support and advocacy for immigrants.
• An interview with Mizue Aizeki, Deputy Director of the Immigrant Defense Project, sheds light on the creation of DHS and the "turbocharged" deportation system.
• Testimonies from Arab and Muslim Americans, such as Ali and Naheed Samadi Bahram, highlight the impact of the tightened borders on the community.