How To Block ICE w/ Eric Blanc, Ro Khanna | MR Live

Eric Blanc details how Minneapolis residents have organized to directly impede ICE. Tactics include widespread use of whistles and signal chats to alert neighbors to ICE presence, recording agents, and delivering food to undocumented immigrants who cannot leave their homes. A particularly effective tactic is 'wide awakes,' where hundreds of people gather outside hotels housing ICE agents in the middle of the night, making noise to disrupt their rest and pressure hotels to cease collaboration.

Eric Blanc discusses these tactics, citing Aru Shin Shane Arise Movement's executive director and the refusal of a Hilton hotel in Minneapolis to house ICE due to protests.

ICE, particularly due to its rapid scaling, heavily relies on private companies for logistics such as hotels for lodging (e.g., Hilton), car rentals (e.g., Enterprise), and food services. Activists exploit this by applying pressure on these corporations through protests, 'wide awakes,' and online 'review bombing' (e.g., on bookings.com), making it financially and reputationally costly for companies to collaborate with ICE. This directly impedes ICE's operational capacity.

Eric Blanc explains that corporations are a 'pillar of support' for authoritarian regimes, and targeting companies like Hilton and Enterprise can stop ICE's 'basic ability to function.' He mentions a Hilton in Minneapolis refusing service due to protests.

Representative Ro Khanna calls for aggressive accountability for ICE. He demands the prosecution of ICE agents involved in the killings of individuals like Alex Prey and Renee Good, citing departures of career lawyers from the Justice Department over lack of investigation. Khanna advocates for stripping ICE agents of qualified immunity, codifying a strict standard of force, mandating body cameras, and ultimately repealing ICE's $75 billion budget and dismantling the agency, proposing a return to immigration enforcement under the Department of Justice with stronger human rights oversight.

Rep. Ro Khanna states, 'those ICE agents need to be prosecuted and they need to be arrested.' He outlines demands: 'get rid of qualified immunity,' 'standard of force that is codified,' 'agents shouldn't be in masks,' 'body cameras,' and 'a repeal of the $75 billion that has already been appropriated to ICE.'

Khanna criticizes the Democratic Party for its 'capitulation' on immigration issues, particularly referencing votes for legislation like 'Lake and Riley' which he argues adopted a European anti-immigrant framework. He believes Democrats are 'afraid of immigrants' and need to articulate a clear message that 'immigrants are good' for America, rather than reacting to polls or right-wing narratives.

Rep. Ro Khanna states, 'Most Democrats deep down believe immigrants are good for America. They're just afraid to say it because of the politics.' He references his own debate performance on Bill Maher's show where he 'lost the debate' arguing against 'Lake and Riley.'

Khanna supports a wealth tax in California, arguing it is necessary to address extreme income inequality, especially in regions like Silicon Valley with vast accumulated wealth. He highlights the need for funds to cover healthcare, childcare, and education, particularly as millions of Californians face losing healthcare. He counters arguments about capital flight by noting that wealth assessment is already done for estate taxes and that the 'ecosystem' of talent and innovation in California will retain most businesses.

Rep. Ro Khanna states, 'we have the most income inequality we've had in arguably this country's history. My district, Silicon Valley, has one-third of the nation's wealth, $18 trillion.' He argues for taxing 'extraordinary wealth to be able to make sure everyone is participating.'