# The Trump Administration: A Clusterfuck in the Making **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 7, 2016, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070 "2016-12-07T00:25:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1596
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2019, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/31905 "2019-04-12T00:35:00Z")
The White House tried to get immigration authorities to release detainees in the districts of political enemies. > **[White House proposed releasing immigrant detainees in sanctuary cities,...](https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/white-house-proposed-releasing-immigrant-detainees-in-sanctuary-cities-targeting-political-foes/2019/04/11/72839bc8-5c68-11e9-9625-01d48d50ef75_story.html)** > > The political retribution was proposed in November and again in February, but immigration authorities rejected the idea as inappropriate, rebuffing the White House. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2019, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/31906 "2019-04-12T00:52:04Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > The White House tried to get immigration authorities to release detainees in the districts of political enemies. > > [https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/white-house-proposed-releasing-immigrant-detainees-in-sanctuary-cities-targeting-political-foes/2019/04/11/72839bc8-5c68-11e9-9625-01d48d50ef75\_story.html](https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/white-house-proposed-releasing-immigrant-detainees-in-sanctuary-cities-targeting-political-foes/2019/04/11/72839bc8-5c68-11e9-9625-01d48d50ef75_story.html) Using refugees as political pawns. The man is evil. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2019, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/31907 "2019-04-12T00:56:27Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > The White House tried to get immigration authorities to release detainees in the districts of political enemies. > > [https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/white-house-proposed-releasing-immigrant-detainees-in-sanctuary-cities-targeting-political-foes/2019/04/11/72839bc8-5c68-11e9-9625-01d48d50ef75\_story.html](https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/white-house-proposed-releasing-immigrant-detainees-in-sanctuary-cities-targeting-political-foes/2019/04/11/72839bc8-5c68-11e9-9625-01d48d50ef75_story.html) Wouldn’t releasing them in Sanctuary Cities be a good thing? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2019, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/31908 "2019-04-12T01:08:25Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Wouldn’t releasing them in Sanctuary Cities be a good thing? He was trying to give political opponents, such as Nancy Pelosi, big headaches. Possibly mobilizing anti-Democrat votes as a result. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2019, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/31909 "2019-04-12T01:11:30Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > He was trying to give political opponents, such as Nancy Pelosi, big headaches. Why would sending asylum seekers into Sanctuary Cities give the Representatives of that city headaches? ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2019, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/31910 "2019-04-12T01:14:36Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > Using refugees as political pawns. The man is evil. I refuse to believe that you think that using human beings as retribution toward political adversaries is a good thing. Please let me continue to refuse to believe that. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2019, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/31911 "2019-04-12T01:15:55Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Why would sending asylum seekers into Sanctuary Cities give the Representatives of that city headaches? Ask Trump: > [@](#): > > [The White House believed it could punish Democrats - including Pelosi - by busing ICE detainees into their districts before their release, according to two DHS whistleblowers who independently reported the busing plan to Congress.](https://www.nola.com/national_politics/2019/04/white-house-proposed-releasing-immigrant-detainees-in-sanctuary-cities.html?fbclid=IwAR3QBR0gitRQx6biFkLpIQj8Um5zKCY1TRuSJVLv7QEWlZt7UBu0GfXGrnQ) ---
**Author:** ![Skypist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skypist/32/169_2.png) [@Skypist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skypist)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2019, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/31912 "2019-04-12T01:16:23Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Wouldn’t releasing them in Sanctuary Cities be a good thing? They probably wanted to release 5000 migrants into one small to medium sized town with no notice ahead of time. Then Faux News could take video of hundreds or thousands of immigrants from the “Three Mexican Countries” and claim that towns that are friendly to immigrants from “shithole countries” are being overrun by lawless hooligans and viewers should be AFRAID! and ANGRY! and DEMAND! WALL immediately! :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2019, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/31913 "2019-04-12T01:19:38Z")
> [@Skypist](#): > > They probably wanted to release 5000 migrants into one small to medium sized town with no notice ahead of time. Then Faux News could take video of hundreds or thousands of immigrants from the “Three Mexican Countries” and claim that towns that are friendly to immigrants from “shithole countries” are being overrun by lawless hooligans and viewers should be AFRAID! and ANGRY! and DEMAND! WALL immediately! > > :rolleyes: Not to mention that they were to be released into these cities despite having absolutely no connection to those cities. What could go wrong? ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2019, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/31914 "2019-04-12T01:22:41Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > Not to mention that they were to be released into these cities despite having absolutely no connection to those cities. What could go wrong? Where should all the asylum seekers be released? I would think Sanctuary Cities would be the best place. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2019, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/31915 "2019-04-12T01:28:00Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Where should all the asylum seekers be released? I would think Sanctuary Cities would be the best place. Their families might disagree with you if they live elsewhere, no? ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2019, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/31916 "2019-04-12T01:43:42Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > Their families might disagree with you if they live elsewhere, no? Perhaps. But is it a standard thing to release asylum seekers to the place where any family members live? ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2019, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/31917 "2019-04-12T01:53:49Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Why would sending asylum seekers into Sanctuary Cities give the Representatives of that city headaches? “Because these refugees, folks, I mean the best people tell me they’re no good. Everybody tells me that. Maybe some are good, I dunno. But the crime rate is skyrocketing there. Absolutely skyrocketing…” Real headaches or not, he’ll just lie about it. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2019, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/31918 "2019-04-12T02:00:37Z")
Well, I’m not interested in lies. I’m interested in why sending asylum seekers to Sanctuary Cities is a bad thing. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2019, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/31919 "2019-04-12T02:17:58Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Well, I’m not interested in lies. I’m interested in why sending asylum seekers to Sanctuary Cities is a bad thing. It doesn’t matter whether or not it’s a good thing or a bad thing or what your opinion or mine is. The Trump administration, itself, considered it a harmful thing and then decided to aim it at political foes. How hard is that to understand? “The White House discussed the immigrant release idea as a way to punish Democrats standing in the way of funding additional detention beds.” ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2019, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/31920 "2019-04-12T02:24:37Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > I’m interested in why sending asylum seekers to Sanctuary Cities is a bad thing. As the cited article notes, even ICE thinks it’s a dumb idea: > [@](#): > > The attempt at political retribution raised alarm within ICE, with a top official responding that it was rife with budgetary and liability concerns, and noting that “there are PR risks as well.” > > After the White House pressed again in February, ICE’s legal department rejected the idea as inappropriate and rebuffed the administration. I’m not sure why you’re talking specifically about “asylum seekers”, when the article seems to be indicating that the proposed “detainee dumping” would involve undocumented immigrants in general. As [this site notes](https://immigrationforum.org/article/fact-sheet-u-s-asylum-process/), asylum seekers, if released from custody while their cases are pending, are supposed to stay within reach of the immigration courts handling their cases: > [@](#): > > Under prior administrations, immigration authorities regularly released migrants from custody while their cases were pending in the immigration court system. Those migrants were still required to check in with immigration authorities and attend hearings in immigration court. The Trump administration has modified these policies to release as few asylum seekers as possible. A recent federal court decision requiring case-by-case determinations as to whether asylum seekers pose a flight risk or threat to public safety is likely to lead to more releases pending their hearings. Also, I’m not sure you understand what sanctuary cities are about. They are so declared for the purpose of protecting undocumented immigrants **who are already part of their local communities and who are not guilty of illegal acts other than their failure to maintain legal resident status** from being arrested and deported by ICE. They are not intended to function as holding pens for large numbers of detained immigrants from elsewhere just because the White House thinks it will be fun to annoy their political opponents by dumping ICE’s responsibilities onto them. “Sanctuary City” means _“you shouldn’t take away our law-abiding residents just because of their undocumented status”_, not _“everybody who wants to live in the US for whatever reason should come to our town right now”_. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2019, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/31921 "2019-04-12T02:28:59Z")
The disingenuous bullshit that people supporting this idiot man-child are willing to debase themselves for is shocking. Look, I think more guns in the hands of more people will result in more people getting shot. The Republican Party thinks that more guns in the hands of more people will result in everyone being safer. If I propose a new federal policy where guns will be handed out at Republican rallies to all comers then I’m an asshole. It doesn’t matter what the real results are if I’m doing this just to harm the other party. And using humans seeking asylum as pawns makes this even more vomitous. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2019, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/31922 "2019-04-12T03:58:29Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Well, I’m not interested in lies. I’m interested in why sending asylum seekers to Sanctuary Cities is a bad thing. Nothing inherently wrong with releasing asylum seekers in “sanctuary cities”. Releasing them there _because_ they are “sanctuary cities” is a mite suspicious, don’t you think? ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2019, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/31923 "2019-04-12T04:10:51Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > The White House tried to get immigration authorities to release detainees in the districts of political enemies. > > [https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/white-house-proposed-releasing-immigrant-detainees-in-sanctuary-cities-targeting-political-foes/2019/04/11/72839bc8-5c68-11e9-9625-01d48d50ef75\_story.html](https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/white-house-proposed-releasing-immigrant-detainees-in-sanctuary-cities-targeting-political-foes/2019/04/11/72839bc8-5c68-11e9-9625-01d48d50ef75_story.html) and of course, it is being reported that behind this is none other than Stephen Miller, Worst of His Name. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2019, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/31924 "2019-04-12T04:47:03Z")
Isn’t he the guy that went on TV with the spray-on hair? He survived the embarrassment? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1595) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1597)