Narciso Barranco was tending the lawn at an IHOP in California when he was set upon by six ICE agents with their guns drawn. Fleeing with his weed wacker, Barranco was thrown down, repeatedly punched and pepper-sprayed. (Film can be seen on the internet.) The ICE agents said he attacked them with his weed wacker, a claim denied by the IHOP manager. Hauled off to detention with a dislocated shoulder, Barranco was allegedly denied food and water for 24 hours.

Barranco is 47 and has lived in this country nearly his entire life. He is the father of three sons who are Marines. He is still in detention.

Why are these awful “law enforcement” incidents occurring? Let me speculate. Maybe Barranco’s arrest was not a mistake; after all, no one is being punished for it. Maybe he was singled out because he is a blameless person — someone chosen to demonstrate to the rest of us that ICE can arrest anyone, anywhere, any time, for any reason. Are we witnessing the creation of an American Gestapo?

The Republicans may face a rising tide of anger in the months ahead. With food prices driven upward by President Trump’s tariffs and millions potentially losing their health insurance and even access to Social Security, and the U.S. slipping into another military quagmire in the Middle East, it is easy to imagine the streets filling with protesters in the countless millions. For that, you don’t call the Ghostbusters.

Robert Supansic

McKeesport

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