ICE director ‘detained’

A recent report on Sarah Saldana, new director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, showed her testifying to Congress on March 19. Asked if clarifying that ICE detainers are compulsory for state and local agencies to comply with, she responded, “Thank you! Amen! Yes!” Then came the “one-day 180,” when on March 20 she said, “Mandating state and local law enforcement’s compliance with ICE detainers will be highly counterproductive.” It’s obvious that someone higher up got to her. I couldn’t help but think of the Orwellian 1984 character Winston Smith. Winston worked at the Ministry of Truth. His job was rewriting history to conform to the truth as identified by the “Party.” He realizes he has a directive to rewrite a historical fact, which will return the “truth” to what it was only the day before he did a first rewrite. So he questions his party officer about his directive. The next thing he knows, he’s in total darkness with his head secured inside a small cage full of hungry rats. Subsequently, he has no trouble – logically or emotionally – accepting that two plus two equals five if the state says so. Sound familiar? Joe Booth Spokane Valley