The latest executive order creates a police state | Hacker News Reader

The latest executive order creates a police state

whitehouse.gov

61 pointstheahura20 comments

Title needs to be updated but I think the text of the order is noteworthy.

If I had just gotten a job offer to come to the US this kind of thing might give me pause, if for no other reason than no one knows how it will be used.

For a long time, the US has punched well above its weight in talent compared to our education system due to our ability to reliably attract top talent. And the best companies want to be here, which pushes our wages up.

It might not always be that way.

Open to suggestions for an edit or will let dang do it (sorry for creating more work for you @dang). That said, I do stand by the title. This EO demands the use of military to 'prevent crime' and 'assist in law enforcement'. This is the definition of martial law. ("Martial law is the replacement of civilian government by military rule and the suspension of civilian legal processes for military powers.")

Not quite martial law, but close enough for discomfort. I hope the military are well trained enough and will just refuse to comply. I know I would.

meh, you broke rules to editorialize. what do you stand by? lying about a police state?

who hurt you?

> If I had just gotten a job offer to come to the US this kind of thing might give me pause

For me it was the active shooter drills in schools. I just didn’t want my daughter to (then about five years old) go through any of that. If I were younger and had no kids, I’d consider, but I’d need to price many things into the compensation package.

The last few months made me decide not to visit the US in the next four years at least. It’s not a decision made lightly, but a needed one.

Another lame attempt at subverting the constitution by trying to rule like a king. I hope this order gets challenged and struck down as soon as possible. If the current administration wants lasting change then it should do it the right way, through Congress. He has both houses on his side so why isn't he making things 'great' in a way that's compatible with the constitution?

> I hope this order gets challenged and struck down as soon as possible

Me too, but considering the threats to jail judges who judge against the administration, I’m not holding my breath.

It’s also easy to me to say that because there’s an ocean between me and the US.

> Within 60 days of the date of this order, the Attorney General shall review all ongoing Federal consent decrees, out-of-court agreements, and post-judgment orders to which a State or local law enforcement agency is a party and modify, rescind, or move to conclude such measures that unduly impede the performance of law enforcement functions.

Chicago was under one of these for having a secret site where they regularly violated people’s constitutional rights and beat them. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/feb/24/chicago-poli...

This is what they’re hoping to return to?

> strengthen and expand legal protections for law enforcement officers

How much stronger can they possibly get? Anything outside of murder on tape seems to be excused as justifiable and even that’s not a situation where accountability is guaranteed.

From the order:

> Sec. 4. Using National Security Assets for Law and Order. (a) Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Attorney General and the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security and the heads of agencies as appropriate, shall increase the provision of excess military and national security assets in local jurisdictions to assist State and local law enforcement. (b) Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Attorney General, shall determine how military and national security assets, training, non-lethal capabilities, and personnel can most effectively be utilized to prevent crime.

> Sec. 5. Holding State and Local Officials Accountable. The Attorney General shall pursue all necessary legal remedies and enforcement measures to enforce the rights of Americans impacted by crime and shall prioritize prosecution of any applicable violations of Federal criminal law with respect to State and local jurisdictions whose officials: (a) willfully and unlawfully direct the obstruction of criminal law, including by directly and unlawfully prohibiting law enforcement officers from carrying out duties necessary for public safety and law enforcement; or (b) unlawfully engage in discrimination or civil-rights violations under the guise of “diversity, equity, and inclusion” initiatives that restrict law enforcement activity or endanger citizens.

> Sec. 6. Use of Homeland Security Task Forces. The Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall utilize the Homeland Security Task Forces (HSTFs) formed in accordance with Executive Order 14159 of January 20, 2025 (Protecting the American People Against Invasion) to coordinate and advance the objectives of this order.

A plain reading states that Trump intends to use federal forces to arrest state and local officials and to enforce laws in non-federal-land.

federal law applies everywhere in United States. Where did you get the idea it doesn’t?

Should the federal government be able to imprison judges who judge the federal government is overreaching and/or doing something illegal?

No, the executive branch is responsible for imprisoning. Judges are supposed to interpret the law passed by the legislative branch. They don’t pass law from the bench. The executive branch enforces the law.

They are supposed to, but that’s not what it says at “State and local jurisdictions whose officials: (a) willfully and unlawfully direct the obstruction of criminal law, including by directly and unlawfully prohibiting law enforcement officers from carrying out duties necessary for public safety and law enforcement”

The tenth amendment is a good starting point.

The 10th amendment is literally federal law.

Executive order - aka rule like a king without any checks or balances.

Abuse of Executive Order may be the downfall of US as businesses and people lose trust.

The title is obviously editorialized, and also hyperventilating.

Local and state policing policy is controlled by local and state politics; overwhelmingly, local municipal politics. It couldn't be further from Trump's reach or closer to any of yours. If this is something you care about, you should know this already and be engaged. Many of you live in places where you could get an astonishing amount done. I'm shocked by how much I got done with how little effort.

The whole concept of a consent decree is that it's manage by a federal judge. The administration can ask to eliminate a binding consent decree. The presiding judge doesn't have to agree.

He says a lot of these things just to rile you up.

I think this says we're all being sent to concentration camps.

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