This is because Trump et al chose to make this a circus
Obama deported Millions and nobody really noticed. Obama had tactfulness.
AI Overview
The deportations under the Obama administration were not a major public spectacle primarily because of the administration's policy framing, enforcement methods, and media narrative, which focused on targeting specific individuals rather than broad, public roundups.
Key factors that contributed to this difference in perception and media coverage include:
-Targeted Priorities: The Obama administration shifted its focus to deporting individuals who posed threats to national security, had serious criminal convictions, or were recent border crossers. This was framed as a targeted, data-driven approach to public safety, which generated less widespread public outrage than the more general approach of other administrations.
-Lack of Public Spectacle: Enforcement actions often lacked the highly publicized, dramatic raids that characterized later immigration enforcement. Obama-era enforcement focused more on behind-the-scenes processes like workplace audits and data sharing with local law enforcement, which were less visible to the public and the media.
-Perception of Intent: While immigrant-rights groups criticized Obama's policies as being too harsh (earning him the nickname "deporter in chief"), the administration's actions were generally perceived as less driven by overt cruelty or racial animus compared to later administrations. The administration's rhetoric often included calls for comprehensive immigration reform and pathways to citizenship, which offered a more balanced public message.
-Statistical Nuances: The high deportation numbers under Obama included many individuals apprehended and processed for "expedited removal" right at the border, often without a formal court process. These "returns" at the border are less visible and newsworthy than interior removals that involve families already established in U.S. communities.
-Media Coverage: News coverage during the Obama years was different, with some analysts suggesting the media covered the actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with a less critical tone compared to later years.
In essence, the Obama administration's approach was perceived as a more systematic, bureaucratic, and less confrontational method of enforcement, which resulted in less media attention and public controversy compared to approaches that utilized more visible and controversial tactics.
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