The Democratic-controlled Senate recently saw a surprising vote of 12 Democrats siding with their Republican counterparts on a piece of legislation that goes by the name of the ‘Laken Riley Act’. Named in memory of a nursing student from Georgia, whose life was tragically taken by an undocumented immigrant found guilty last autumn, it sailed through the Senate with bipartisan support, before finding majority approval in the U.S. House. The bill now sits on the desk of President Donald Trump, a signature away from becoming law.
The Laken Riley Act comes with contentious provisions, although its cynical champions would have you believe it concerns only justice and security. The Act stipulates that any undocumented immigrant accused of a crime – ranging from a minor accusation of shoplifting to more severe charges like burglary – can be promptly incarcerated and deported. Even the accusation alone, without a fair trial and conviction, would be enough under this legislation.
Not only does the Act target those without proper documentation, it casts its net wider to include individuals with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) from select nations, and those benefiting from the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) program. The veneer of bipartisanship fails to mask the cruel machinery this law sets into motion, an engine revved by the whims of Republican lawmakers.
One might wonder why the so-called champions of Democrats decided to support such a piece of progressive legislation. Perhaps they believe going with the flow might make them immune to the rising tide of conservative sentiment. Republicans, in control of both houses of Congress, keep churning out legislation that betrays the spirit of democracy and civil liberties, turning the Democratic ‘co-operation’ into a mockery.
Before the 2024-referendum, the Democrats, now surprisingly silent, were vocal about the dangers of fascism and the threat a Republican victory posed to democracy. They promised voters they’d elect representatives who’d stand as bulwarks against that threat. They seem to have forgotten their pledges in favor of ‘bipartisan’ strategies.
Democrats once raised alarm bells about ‘Make America Great Again’ – a centerpiece of Trump’s rhetoric. Today, they find themselves supporting legislation cut from that very cloth. They’ve pivoted from fighting for democracy to what looks suspiciously like aiding its weakening. It seems that, to them, bipartisanship involves extending a hand to destroy the very foundation they vowed to protect.
Indeed, we live in desperate times. Yet, the supposed ‘solution’ emerging from such desperation is a president who prides himself on ‘America First’. Believers argue that we need a leader asserting God, military, family, and freedom. The glorification of these intersections, they assert, will find us a savior in our hour of need.
Trump enjoys a reputation for putting America before any other country’s desires. Some perceive him as a firm believer in ‘peace through strength’, unafraid to confront anyone who means harm to his nation. One can only wonder how much of this is a show of strength and how much is a disregard for diplomacy.
His supporters swear that he is a leader who keeps his promises and works tirelessly for his country. Upon beginning his new term, he supposedly accomplished more in a day than what his predecessor, Joe Biden, could manage in a week. One is forced to question the measuring scale here, given the context of these comparisons.
Birthright citizenship, as determined by the 14th Amendment’s first sentence, finds itself in Trump’s crosshairs. His executive order, purportedly to end said citizenship, is pointed out by critics as a cruel and unconstitutional assault. But does most of America see this? Or are they charmed by the veneer of ‘law and order’?
Discussing the United States’ relationship with faith, the article titled ‘Bishop says she’ll pray for Trump’ has stirred controversy. When a respected Christian cleric’s humble prayer is met with threats and mockery by Trump and his supporters, it’s hard not to see the irony glaringly.
The idea of America being a ‘Christian nation’ is peddled by Trump’s supporters, a clear violation of the principle of church-state separation that forms the foundation of the Constitution. Yet, these ‘Christian nationalists’ seem to have forgotten the sacredness of religious freedom in their clamor for dominance.
After following the Times of Trenton for half a century, it’s a somber moment to bid farewell. The Times is bidding goodbye to its print version after the 2nd of February. Despite the digital era enveloping the world, there is a unique delight to be found in reading physical newspapers, a pleasure that won’t be shared with the Times anymore.
Values of instant gratification, profit, and appearances seem to be replacing substance, depth, and intrinsic worth. The Times, once a treasured source, has drifted towards a direction that no longer serves or engages its community. Once loved for its local, regional, political, arts, cultural, and community news, it has fallen into a shallow oblivion.
Thus marks the end of an era. The subscription ends on the 3rd of February. Parting is bittersweet, but it is a necessary farewell. Goodbye, Trenton Times.