SPEAKER_01 0:01

Yep. Hey guys, welcome back to another episode of the Is It Legit Podcast. Today we are talking about is Seattle going to war with IC. Uh, we had an arrest of a landscaper last week that came in um in a surge of arrests by the uh the federal ice agencies. There's been some deaths um you know nationwide that has caused a lot of people to be wary of ice. Uh, but what happened was uh there was a gentleman named John Sims uh who saw the arrest uh of a Mexican national in Seattle's maple leaf neighborhood. Uh so for those of us who don't know where that is, that is in the middle of Seattle. Uh, this is broad daylight. And uh this gentleman spotted agents coming from unmarked vehicles and basically surrounded this gentleman uh who's again a Mexican national, and um that is kind of causing a lot of people to talk about this issue. Um, according to the Department of Homeland Security, though, this person has had a criminal history that includes convictions for assault and theft. So um there's a little bit of is this the right thing? Is it still the wrong thing to you know just snatch somebody from the middle of the street? Uh, but Peter, have you heard about this? And what is your overall thoughts on this issue?

SPEAKER_00 1:35

Yeah, I mean, it's uh something so I just recently signed up for an app called Next Door, and uh I came across this article, and uh it's a trending post. I think a lot of people are interested and care and uh can get upset, especially here in you know the greater Seattle. Uh and so people are uh I I I looked through the comments recently, and there are uh people who are um very angry at this, right? Um again, there's there's Seattle, but then there's a lot of people who are also uh for this, right? Uh again, the story is is that uh he is a you know he has a criminal past, but he's also a landscaper, right? He's probably you know doing good work, right? And so this is kind of a controversial topic um because we are seeing um uh because recently Trump just uh increased the quota for you know detaining these uh illegal immigrants uh to 2,000 recently. And so we're seeing a lot more of these uh ICE arrests. I know this whole ICE situation kind of died down, but uh we're just seeing it ramp up recently, and um and it's probably gonna ramp up because we don't know if Trump's gonna have his, well, he's he's not supposed to have a third term, but you know, if we're in an active war, then he actually potentially can, uh, or the next person who is uh Republican could potentially continue these efforts. And so maybe because they don't know they're ramping up the efforts so they can uh get a lot of uh these illegal immigrants out. So interesting situation, it's definitely happening. Uh, I I I've been seeing actually um comments on various uh like neighborhood apps like Ring and whatnot, uh, talking about how they're seeing more ICE uh activity. So just interesting to see.

SPEAKER_01 3:34

So I think uh what's interesting about the um where it's aware this is happening, right? So this is not happening in in uh you know places away from the I-5 corridor, you know, it's happening uh in Bellevue. I think there was a uh arrest at a Walmart in Bellevue. Um Linwood, where our office actually is, and it's one of the biggest areas in Washington State. Uh Lakewood, Pacific, Auburn, Kent, Shelton. So these these areas are where a lot of people know where it is and where a lot of families live, a lot of our friends even live. And you know, apparently, um, so like you said, Trump is increasing the the quota to 2,000 a day nationwide. They are working some of these guys six to seven days a week, and they are putting 80% of all the ICE agents on arrest duty. So, I mean, Peter, do you do you agree with what ICE is doing overall? I mean, is it more of you know, guilty until proven innocent? Or, I mean, what is your overall feeling on how on what's happening?

SPEAKER_00 4:58

Yeah, you know, I I have a lot of friends who are uh anti-ICE. Um, you know, being in Washington State, and um so I'm always trying to listen to both sides of the situation, right? So, like on one hand, okay, we're trying to um there's a lot of talk about how um the efforts with ice is um they're they're actually trying to get more criminals, people with um more criminal backgrounds, right? So that that's actually a a thing. Um uh not just some random citizens who who don't have papers. Uh I don't know what the truth is around that. Um on the other hand, you know, I'm hearing the other side is that you know they you know they're not getting the the due process that that that they deserve, that is just kind of uh haphazard and they're grabbing people and just you know deporting them. Um I have heard that there are some um there are some US citizens who have been deported. Uh not deported, but um detained before. Um, so the idea is that there's a lot of fear that's going on. And um, you know, there's a lot of immigrants, you know, America is full of immigrants, right? Uh, you know, we are immigrants. Like at the end of the day, we're a pot, right? A melting pot of all different types of backgrounds. And so um a lot of people who who who aren't, you know, who don't look you know white with blue eyes are afraid, right? I'm not afraid. I I mean I'm Asian, but I I really I'm not afraid, right? Um, but I know a lot of people, you know, probably you know, people who are Mexican or people who are um, you know, kind of fits that kind of profile that ICE agents would be looking for, um, they probably do have fear. And so on the other side, it's just that you know, there's a lot of fear going on. Um, and that is causing uh people to feel like anxiety and um and then of course they come they come in and they they kind of swoop people up. Uh it almost looks like you know, one of the one of the uh criticisms is it almost looks like it's a uh like uh an abduction, right? Because they come in vans, they come in, they're masked up, and they you know grab them, right? And uh Ferguson actually uh um signed a law, uh House Bill 2165. Um they signed a law saying that uh you have to uh show identity, um, and you you you shouldn't be um uh uh hiding your face, or it's it was something like that. Um or it's illegal to wear something that gives the impression that you are an uh uh an ice agent. And because apparently there's been imposters too, and that's that's dangerous too, right? It's like what if they're not ICE agents and they're just people, you know. One of the other things that we have, unfortunately, in uh in this area, is uh we have um there's a lot of sex trafficking here and abductions. Um they say that we're a port of of that, so so that also brings them fear. So it's like I'm I'm hearing both sides of this. If you're asking me, okay, are there people okay, so like if you are not a legal citizen of America, that is a rule that is, you know, like an a legal citizen of America who you know pays taxes, who contributes you know to society, who doesn't get paid under the table, et cetera, et cetera. Uh, it's like if you're not a legal citizen, do I believe that you're allowed to stay here? No, I don't. And I'll be very clear on that. Uh, should there be a better process around this? Yes, absolutely. Is it reasonable because of the way our political system is and how difficult it is? Like we just had a whole uh um a podcast about uh people who are like squatters and how hard it is to get out, you know, they're get them out. There are, you know, they because of this process, it took a year for this guy uh uh to evict someone who clearly was a squatter, and that law is broken. And so, in the same way, it's like if it takes years and years to get someone out when they're when they're a legal citizen, um, and we just don't have the manpower to be able to do that. Um, it does one of there's basically two things that this does. It creates fear from people wanting to actually uh enter here. I I could tell you right now, it does create fear. I've I've heard it firsthand from people who are not American citizens. Uh, secondly, it does get the job done in the sense that, you know, without all of this due process, uh it you get the job done faster. I mean, that's admit admittedly, that's what happens. Um, so I I I think it's kind of like uh like okay, it's understandable. Is it getting the job done? Because it's so hard to pass a bill. Yes. But yeah, like do I like them just snatching up people? No, yeah, like it's it's horrible, right? You know, they they may be good people and you know, family people who just want a better life. Um I it sucks that that that they have to go through that, but you know, I think it's understandable on both sides, so that's my stance.

SPEAKER_01 10:25

Yeah, so recently uh there have been a couple of deaths that have caused people to pay more attention to this. And we've actually covered some of this stuff, you know, on our previous podcast, but on July 8th, um, I mean, just a few days ago, uh, another Mexican immigrant uh was shot in Houston by ICE agents. Um, another in on July 14th, again, even more recent, you know, less than uh like almost uh two weeks ago, um, there was another gentleman that was shot in Maine, right? So this is happening uh nationwide. Imagine going down the street and being fearful of not even being deported to your point, but being detained just because you look different, right? You're going to work, you're you're going to go grocery shopping for your family. I actually know people who have been stopped on the way to work, going to work in their uniform in their work truck or whatever it is, and getting stopped and detained. And it's almost guilty until proven innocent, which is the exact opposite of how our justice system should be. You know, it's innocent until proven guilty. You know, it's just like telling your friend, hey, you know, this is missing from my desk, so you are guilty until I can have you know video footage of somebody else taking it. It just doesn't make sense. And um, I think that's why there's been a lot of you know, um, a recent attention to the to this because it's so prevalent in our neighborhoods. We all have friends, we all have people that we even work with that may even be in the legal process of getting their citizenship, but because they're not quite citizens yet, they have um, I don't want to say the right, but ICE feels like they have the right to detain these people. And I think this, you know, like a citizen like John Sims, you know, spoke out and videotaped this thing for you know awareness and exposure. But this is happening in places that I go to all the time, right? There's a there's a racetrack in Shelton that I visit uh uh visit all the time. There was an arrest there, you know. So don't be surprised if you're walking down the street and you see you witness something like this, and you may actually be part of witnessing a crime, also. So I think that's definitely the negative aspect of it. And like you said, there are, of course, good reasons on why certain criminals or you know, people who are laundering money or trafficking people should be detained and deported 100%. Uh, however, what's the collateral damage, right? Like how many people are gonna get hurt, how many families will have to get broken apart in the process, um just because you're not a citizen, you know, which is kind of the reason why you know we our country became who we are. So it it is it's sad. Um, I also um know why it might be necessary, so I do have that you know a viewpoint, but it is uh something that makes me a little worried about just walking around for sure.

SPEAKER_00 13:51

Yeah, you know, uh um it's kind of like this like, dude, if you were leadership, right? And you let's remember the movie Scarface, right? It's like a classic movie, everyone loves it. Um you know, there are people who who come into the country, you know, it's like I guess like maybe Scarface had decent intentions, but dude, he had definitely a criminal background. He has a you know scar on his face, right? Because he's done criminal act, you know, he's done criminal activity before. And of course he gets in and and then he, you know, obviously causes, you know, he's he's pushing so much drugs into the country, right? It's like in those cases, like, wouldn't you like if you're a leadership, wouldn't you want to like get rid of those people, right? And I I think that's the people that Trump sees because there are people like that, illegal immigrants who are doing criminal activity here, and that's one of the biggest reasons uh behind trying to uh get them out. Because when they're when you're undocumented, when you're doing everything under the table, it's hard to know what they're doing, how they're making money, how you know, you know what I mean? And um, and they're doing illegal things, sex trafficking, you know, uh pushing drugs. You know, that's one of the worst things. And we see it in Seattle. We're called a sanctuary city. And dude, when I used to go in Seattle, I mean, dude, you see so much drug use. It's it's crazy. Like I see people shooting up, right? Like I've got my kid with me, and I'm seeing people shoot up right on, like right uh, you know, next to you know, the the store that's like closed for the day, right? Um, and this is why, you know, people don't go to Seattle during the night because it's so dangerous out there. And um, and I think these are the reasons why, and then you know, there's a whole thing with California and how ridiculous it is out there. There's trash everywhere, there's people doing drugs, there's poop, you know, it's like it's even worse. And you know, I think that's the kind of stuff that we we want to clean up. Um, but unfortunately, they're getting sucked in with you know some of the the good citizens who are you know trying to do good work, right? Like trying to to to to uh make an honest living and you know contribute to society, um, but you know, are not legal. So yeah. It's it's like I I I can understand kind of that side of things and and how that can be a problem. Um, but we could also talk about like how how are people in Seattle resisting? Um, there's been a lot of protests. I don't know if you've heard of the the you know, Jackson High School, Henry M. Jackson, right? Um, sorry, no, hold on. Henry Henry M. Jackson Federal Building. Um, there's protester that protesters that gathered around there. Um there were some activists that physically stopped vehicles blocking exits with e-bikes and scooters. Um yeah, there's been um there's been some escalations, property damage, fireworks, uh, rock throwing, flag burning. Um so Seattle's definitely fighting against uh this this ice, you know, because they're seeing a more uh uptick in ice activity.

SPEAKER_01 17:17

Yeah, I mean, I think um, you know, if I can take a slightly maybe controversial take, um, you know, I'm just gonna come at the angle from how to make change. Uh, I think to make change, especially on a national scale, when everything is so divided politically and otherwise, you you know, you can't, you can, you can criticize Trump for a lot of things, for sure. You really can. But I think what he does do really well is to make an impact on a national and worldwide scale. And a lot of it could seem very controversial, and it is, but imagine you having to change the tide, right? Think of it as I think of it as like a whole tide of things that have been coming that he's trying to reverse, like the previous administrations, you know, you know, allowing a lot of these immigrations, a lot of unchecked immigration. Well, what what's the problem with that? Aren't we America? Well, yes, there can be problems. Number one, we are suffering in our schools, in our municipalities, of funding and different things that we the people who are in, you know, who are citizens, who are residents, like lawful residents, are paying tax money for. You know, what about our kids? Right? When we can't even like Muckle Teal, where we live, has a budget shortage for teachers for the school district, millions of dollars short. We covered on our previous podcast, you actually covered it really well, where you were saying, hey, a lot of our cities are are bankrupt or or about to be bankrupt. And now you have to support all of this uh heft, this financial heft, right? Of giving them, you know, giving these immigrants um financial um help. And then on top of all that, you're trying to you know create fear uh for the right or wrong reasons of people understanding that, hey, this behavior is not going to be allowed, you can't just come into the country and you know be a drain on our resources. It's just like if I'm enforcing a law, the law at my house, you know, it's not gonna be nice. If the kids, if my kids are doing something that I don't want them to do, and the nice approach has not worked, uh, you know, I have to lay down the law somehow. There's gonna be some crying in our house for sure, and then the behavior will correct. So, you know, maybe I'm I'm I'm too strict on this kind of a view, but I think that um, and the last thing I'll cover is the whole voting thing, right? So my stepdad just told me in San Francisco, guys, San Francisco in the Bay Area, they are allowing people without uh citizenships to vote now. Wow, really? So I see so think about the interpretation. We already have you know Russia who was meddling with our our um uh elections, you know, there's voter fraud that's been proven to have happened, you know. Um so you're allowing potentially, potentially, a group of people who don't have um legal rights or roots in this country to influence how our country's politics are steered or who our leaders are. So there are some very, very deep reasons why I think this is actually important, and to kind of look, how can we help the world if we can't even help ourselves? We have a budget deficit. I mean, we could go on and on, but I think there is a very deep reason why some of this or a lot of this is necessary, however, you also shouldn't just violate people's rights and pull them out of cars and you know. I yeah, it's Seattle's a dangerous place. I mean, I I had one last story is my my son and I, I think he was seven at the time, my oldest seven or eight. Um, we had gone to right near Pike's place. Like, this is right off of first and like Pike. So this is like Tourist Central, right? And we had eaten at this cafe because he was hungry, whatever. We left the next day. I see an article saying that there was a gun, uh, there was a shoot. Shooting right where we were standing the day before, hours after we had left. Like I looked at the article and it was like this happened at 2 p.m. And I and I thought we were there at 12. So again, was that an immigrant? I don't know. But what I'm saying is there can be potential conflicts and dangers of not having the right people in the country or the state or the city. So anyway, yeah, that's my take.

SPEAKER_00 22:35

Yeah, it's an interesting point about um you know how there could be some benefits and some loopholes for non non not legal citizens. Um so there's there's that, you know, and and we are broke, right? Um, but it could be because we're supporting people who are not legal, right? Where there are people who are actually paying into the system who are not getting all of the benefits because we're broke as cities, as a nation, right? And so uh, and then then there's a lot of fraud, right? And for you know, everyone knows of the Somalian right fraud that's been happening, right, in Minnesota. What was that?

SPEAKER_01 23:17

Sorry, massive fraud, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 23:19

Massive fraud that's also happening probably here, right? And so they're siphoning, you know, one could argue millions and several million, hundreds of millions of dollars, maybe I don't even billions all throughout the nation, right? It's like they're taking all of this money where um, you know, that money really should be going to uh you know people who are citizens who who work here, right? Um, and who deserve to have the benefits from the federal government. And so um there are again, it's it we're generalized generalizing, and that's one of the hardest things, right? It's like we're generalizing because not everyone is like this, but you know, there are people who do do fraud, who do do illegal things, do drug use, right? Uh illegal immigrants who are doing bad things here in America, like like the Scarfaces, right? There are people like that, and um definitely I should take those people and and do take them. Um, it's just there are people who are, you know, good people who are you know detained in such a you know horrible way and deported in such a horrible way, you know, they they get caught in the mix, but you know, I don't know. Running a country is really hard, and sometimes it's not so clean, it's not so pretty, you know, and there are gonna be bad cases. So um, anyway, that's kind of what's happening. Um, we're seeing more of this happening in our area. It's uh interesting and you know, sad in some ways, and um, you know, I I I wish you know safety for everyone, and I don't I don't wish to live in fear for anyone, um, and we empathize. Um, and so yeah, that's all I have to say. Anything else, John, before we end?

SPEAKER_01 25:06

No, that's it. I think uh it's it is important to understand both sides. Uh, I think we try to do that on this podcast, and um, it's a good exercise, even for us as the hosts, to just say, okay, what is on the other side? You know, there are arguments on either side that are valid. It's just there has to be always a balance between these things. Um, and I think what's really interesting about today is that there's a lot of our basic freedoms and you know, I uh ideas of liberties, all that's being challenged because we we're just kind of living in this society where it's all clickbaity and headline heavy. Um, but through these things, I think we all have to remind ourselves hey, we have like there's a reason why we are a great country, and we have to protect that, and protection comes at a cost. So uh I think we all have to be ready to kind of at least use some brain power to think about what's happening, just awareness, right? And then maybe if you want to do something, you can make a change. So that's you know all I have to say.

SPEAKER_00 26:12

Yeah, like, dude, if there was like a thousand, let's just say ICE, like like we're we're forgetting, like we only point out that like the one or two stories, right? That ice does that like it was bad, and they make mistakes, they're human, humans are fallible. But if they took out like a thousand scarfaces, right, a thousand drugs, sex traffickers, things like that, yeah, criminals. Yeah, but then there's one case of where you know there was you know resistance and then you know got shot and this and that. It's like, well, but what about the you know, nine 999 other cases of you know, we we did a good thing where we deported people, you know, that were criminals. Ah, you know what I mean? So that that that just makes it really hard. Um you know, so anyway, that's yeah, that's a good point. So yeah, thank you guys for watching. We'll have more information on, you know, we're we're both Seattleites, we're we're both here and we're watching and seeing what's going on, and and um, you know, this situation is definitely a national thing, and we're gonna cover more of this. Uh so please hit the like button, please uh subscribe, and we'll give you guys more information on this top, these kinds of topics later. Thank you and see you guys later.