The Senate has passed a bill making Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) the U.S.'s largest interior law enforcement agency with funding for Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda higher than most of the world’s militaries, including Israel’s.

Pending its passage in the House of Representatives, Trump’s bill could mean a massive increase in ICE funding as part of an immigration enforcement agenda worth $150 billion over four years.

This figure is more than the annual military budget of Italy, which at $30.8 billion, is the world’s 16th highest defense spender for this year according to tracker Global Fire Power.

It is also higher than military spending for Israel, ($30 billion), the Netherlands ($27 billion) and Brazil ($26.1 billion).

    • skuzz@discuss.tchncs.de
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      31 minutes ago

      The real problem will likely end up being that civilians can’t own the firepower the US military/police have, legally. No full auto, no giant drums, no grenades, no missiles, no fighter jets. Even if it were a “well-regulated militia” one fighter/bomber could take them all out, and be marketed on some made up news articles as, “we stopped the terrorists, you’re safe now.”

      If it really came down to it, such a battle would be very one-sided, so it would have to be more strategic guerilla tactics.

      Oh, and the SS just got a huge budget increase, so that won’t help. (As seen above.)

    • MiDaBa@lemmy.ml
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      5 hours ago

      Its probably time we all become the gun nuts at least while they still let us

      • skuzz@discuss.tchncs.de
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        35 minutes ago

        There were already talks in the p2025 circles about ceasing civilian firearms in some fashion and then allowing “permits” at some future time for “loyal” gun owners. Wouldn’t be surprised if they’ll still try it.

    • MonkeMischief@lemmy.today
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      3 hours ago

      That’s how it was supposed to be, until the Right co-opted firearms as an entire personality, and the liberal response was to spread ignorance, miseducation, and fear about them so that their party branding looked different enough.

      So now all the insecure, hateful, scared-of-everybody violence-fantasists are armed, knowledgeable, and stocked.

      And those that would oppose authoritarianism en masse were force-fed “Only cops and the military should be armed and the rest of us should just wish they didn’t exist”.

      So they’re now largely rendered toothless and clawless normies who think flash hiders, rail grips, and black paint make a weapon “more lethal.” And don’t know what to do with themselves if pickets and law systems don’t have an effect.

      Meanwhile the “patriotic” bullies ramble about “freedom” and “small government” whilst simping for their fascist overlords unopposed by any actual threat.

      Like most loud bullies, most are the types that would likely break if met with any actual opposition that could do them harm.

      I don’t want to see it come to this, but we need to educate and train ourselves before it’s too late. The threat alone might be enough to put them in their place.

      It’s very clear nobody is coming to save us from this worsening state of affairs.