From the Battlefield to the Border: The U.S. Playbook Repeats Itself
In a gripping new episode of The Take by Al Jazeera, acclaimed author Viet Thanh Nguyen explores a bold and haunting idea:
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids at home mirror the tactics and trauma of America’s wars abroad.
Nguyen, a Pulitzer Prize-winning writer and Vietnam War refugee, argues that the United States has long exported violence globally — and now, it’s using similar strategies on its own soil.
Viet Thanh Nguyen: A Voice Rooted in History
Nguyen’s personal story adds depth to his analysis.
Fleeing Vietnam as a child and resettling in the U.S., he experienced firsthand the effects of American foreign policy.
Now, as an author and cultural critic, he draws connections between the militarization of immigration enforcement and the legacy of U.S. interventions overseas.
“When I see ICE raids on homes and communities, I see echoes of war zones,” Nguyen explained. “Surveillance, fear, and forced displacement are not new tactics.”
The Tools of War — Used at Home?
Nguyen highlights how ICE raids rely on tactics similar to military operations:
- Early morning surprise raids
- Aggressive use of force
- Targeted profiling of communities
These methods, he says, reflect a “wartime mentality” that treats immigrants not as people but as threats — just as foreign populations were often dehumanized during wars in Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
The Mental and Social Toll on Immigrants
Beyond physical force, Nguyen also focuses on the emotional trauma these tactics inflict.
Many immigrants, especially refugees and asylum seekers, already suffer from the wounds of conflict. ICE raids reawaken that trauma.
“We’re re-traumatizing the very people we claim to protect,” Nguyen said.
This trauma affects not just individuals, but entire communities — creating an atmosphere of fear, silence, and isolation.
A Call to Rethink National Security
Nguyen’s message is clear: if America wants to lead with moral authority, it must stop treating immigration as a war.
Instead, the U.S. needs to focus on compassionate, humane immigration policies that acknowledge its own role in global instability.
Final Thoughts
This episode of The Take offers a sobering reminder: violence doesn’t only happen “over there.”
For many immigrants, it’s here — at their doorsteps.
Viet Thanh Nguyen’s insights challenge Americans to rethink how they define security, patriotism, and justice.
