"The plan, when I went to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Career Expo in Texas last August, was to learn what it was like to apply to be an ICE agent. Who wouldn't be curious? The event promised on-the-spot hiring for would-be deportation officers: Walk in unemployed, walk out with a sweet $50k signing bonus, a retirement account, and a license to brutalize the country's most vulnerable residents without consequence-all while wrapped in the warm glow of patriotism."
"At first glance, my résumé has enough to tantalize a recruiter for America's Gestapo-in-waiting: I enlisted in the Army straight out of high school and deployed to Afghanistan twice with the 82 nd Airborne Division. After I got out, I spent a few years doing civilian analyst work. With a carefully arranged, skills-based résumé-one which omitted my current occupation-I figured I could maybe get through an initial interview."
"The catch, however, is that there's only one "Laura Jedeed" with an internet presence, and it takes about five seconds of Googling to figure out how I feel about ICE, the Trump administration, and the country's general right-wing project. My social media pops up immediately, usually with a preview of my latest posts condemning Trump's unconstitutional, authoritarian power grab. Scroll down and you'll find articles with titles like " What I Saw in LA Wasn't an Insurrection; It Was a Police Riot"."
A veteran attended an ICE career expo to learn about applying as a deportation officer. The expo advertised immediate hiring, a $50k signing bonus, retirement benefits, and authority to enforce immigration policy. Military service and civilian analyst experience made the veteran appear attractive to recruiters. Public online profiles and published pieces quickly revealed outspoken opposition to ICE, the Trump administration, and right-wing policies. Social media posts and articles highlighted criticisms and political activism. Visibility of these views would jeopardize candidacy, making the veteran an undesirable recruit despite relevant qualifications and service.
Read at Slate Magazine
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