Every day I worry that today could be our last day together

Every night I hold you and wonder if it will be our last night together

Should I open my eyes while we kiss so that I can remember every second in case they take you away from me

Why can’t I live in a world where I feel grateful and happy to love and be loved?

Why do I have to worry every day that today could be our last?

Why is the country that I live in choosing to be so cruel to innocent people?

What about their families and those that love them?

What about the community and those that need them?

Wouldn’t the world be a better place if we just chose love instead of hate?

New Anti-Theft Bill Called CORCA Could Supercharge ICE Surveillance Power Natalie Bencivenga

CORCA is the Anti-Theft Bill Critics Say Could Supercharge ICE's Surveillance Powers (and no one’s talking about it).

A bill marketed as a tool to combat organized retail theft is drawing fierce criticism from civil liberties advocates who say it will dramatically expand the federal government’s surveillance powers.

The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act, or CORCA, passed the U.S. House last month with support from both Republicans and 144 Democrats. Supporters argue the legislation is needed to address increasingly sophisticated retail theft rings that operate across state lines and cost businesses billions of dollars each year.

Some legal analysts and civil liberties advocates have described CORCA as one of the most significant expansions of Department of Homeland Security authority during President Trump’s second term.

They argue the legislation creates a new framework for collecting and sharing information about individuals who have merely been accused of retail theft—not convicted or even formally charged.

At the center of the controversy is the bill’s broad language surrounding information sharing and cooperation between federal agencies, retailers, and local law enforcement.

Critics warn that the legislation could allow DHS to collect sensitive personal information, including citizenship status and other identifying data, while providing few meaningful guardrails on how that information is gathered, stored, or used. They also point to what they describe as a troubling incentive structure.

Under the bill, DHS would be permitted to prioritize federal grant funding for communities that cooperate with federal requests for information.

Opponents argue that cash-strapped municipalities could face pressure to share resident data in order to secure funding for public safety initiatives, police training, and other critical programs.

Supporters of the legislation reject those concerns, arguing that the bill is narrowly focused on organized criminal enterprises and provides law enforcement with tools needed to investigate sophisticated theft operations that increasingly cross jurisdictional boundaries.

The debate has also raised questions about the role Democrats played in advancing the legislation.

At a moment when many Democratic lawmakers have publicly criticized the expansion of immigration enforcement and federal surveillance powers, 144 members of the caucus voted in favor of the bill.

Critics argue that vote reflects a growing willingness within both parties to support expanded enforcement authorities when framed as public safety measures.

So, what exactly does CORCA do? How much authority would it actually grant to DHS? Are warnings about surveillance overreach justified, or are critics overstating the bill’s impact?

And perhaps most importantly: Is the legislation still alive, or has it stalled before reaching the finish line?

In this episode of Facts Over Fear, I sit down with Max Burns, award-winning advocacy communicator, political columnist, and founder of Third Degree Strategies, to unpack what’s in the bill, why so few people have heard about it, and what it reveals about the current state of both political parties.

If you are concerned like we are, share this post. Amplify this. Tag your representatives like Sen. Mark Kelly and Sen. Amy Klobachur.

Remind them that if they vote for this bill, you will vote them OUT the next chance you get.

We keep us safe.

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FACTS OVER FEAR

Let's dismantle the fear that is used to divide us surrounding the issues impacting the people and talk facts.

ABOUT NATALIE

Natalie Bencivenga is a socially-conscious journalist working towards building equity in our communities through storytelling. Her goal is to inspire, educate and activate people to become catalysts for positive change. Join her for transformative conversations that uplift and challenge the ways in which we perceive the world.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LevLdX1-60w&pp=ugUEEgJlbg%3D%3D

I especially liked the commentary at the end.

The irony is right. Great video from IHIP News.

BREAKING ICE BODYCAM LEAKS

How many more people need to be put into inhumane detention centers or KILLED for speaking up against these inhumane actions. Why are people so ready to blame the immigrants for society’s problems instead of the wealthiest people who do not contribute their fair share of taxes? Rich oligarchs are creating vastly worse problems for our country than the hard working immigrant population. Attacking people this way illustrates how we are letting racism run rampant and justified instead of seeking peaceful solutions.

We could have hired more immigration judges instead we hired more ICE officers. It’s like if your kitchen had an ant invasion and you just keep spraying raid but never clean up the spilled sugar. America needs to be better. America needs to be humane in how we treat people and we cannot treat any human this way anymore. No matter what country someone was born in, they have a right to be treated humanely. Murdering people to support a racist eugenics is the future of our country when we could have just worked on a genuine solution to broken immigration system.

Even a not perfect solution that was reviewed and revised after the fact would be better than going after individuals with brute police force.

I am sad that this was never offered. The way we are trying to “fix” the problem now will never fix it, it is only making people suffer and lose family members or die, unfortunately. We need to demand FIX OUR BROKEN IMMIGRATION SYSTEM NOW!

No more years of waiting for USCIS correspondence.

More options and pathways into entry.

More immigration judges.

Just to name a few things to start with before we throw more money at reckless ICE agents.

What is wrong with the people who disagree? We are all humans and we need to treat others how we want to be treated. Nothing else matters. Heal the world and make it a better place. 16 years ago Michael Jackson knew what was most important was PEACE

This type of offense in general is a misdemeanor. Every day citizens commit misdemeanors and never fear the risk of losing their entire lives. This means losing everything they have worked for, their family, their jobs, to be taken in an instant because of an unexpected ICE raid. People who drive without working headlights or who drove without working headlights 20 years ago are essentially committing similar misdemeanor offenses and have no fear that such a minor act could cause them to lose EVERYTHING.

While people celebrate Christmas and talk about what gifts Santa may bring their children they forget that Jesus is the reason for Christmas. Jesus was an immigrant too. Oppose the presence of ICE in your community. Oppose the abusive language of calling someone an “illegal”. Because the truth of it, almost every American citizen has committed a misdemeanor (jaywalking for example) at least ONE TIME in their entire life. Imagine how different things would be if we called every person”illegal” for that one misdemeanor they made 20+ years ago.

Think about every time someone drove drunk and made it home … A MISDEMEANOR.

Every time someone ran a red light … A MISDEMEANOR.

Every time someone drove even 5 mph over the speed limit … A MISDEMEANOR.

So essentially all of those people are just as “illegal” as the hard working neighbors who came into the country without stopping at a checkpoint.

Our immigration system is broken. It is a huge financial burden for many people to attempt to become a citizen and even after paying thousands of dollars and waiting over ten years they may still be denied their application. Beg your representatives to FIX OUR BROKEN IMMIGRATION SYSTEM and to treat people humanely.

It was Jesus who said to treat others as you would like to be treated. Help spread the word: JESUS IS THE REASON FOR CHRISTMAS! Donate what you can to ACLU and other pro immigration groups who are helping our neighbors in these horrific times.

“We pray for an end to dehumanizing rhetoric and violence, whether directed at immigrants or at law enforcement.”

NY Times Article

History of US Immigration Video