A (Hopey Changey) Dream Deferred…

If we can all take a moment and remember back to another time and place — 2008 to be exact — I wonder if we can recall the hope and inspiration that the Obama campaign promised, particularly when it came to things like immigration reform, the DREAM Act and gay rights.

Well, 2008 seems like a long time ago for many reasons, not least of which is this press release from ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement).  The release essentially outlines that, under Obama and his Arizonan Department of Homeland Security chief Janet Napolitano, the Obama Administration has been responsible for MORE deportations than ever before — including under neocon President Bush.

What happened to the dream, man?

To quote from the release:

“In fiscal year 2010, ICE set a record for overall removals of illegal aliens, with more than 392,000 removals nationwide. Half of those removed-more than 195,000-were convicted criminals. The fiscal year 2010 statistics represent increases of more than 23,000 removals overall and 81,000 criminal removals compared to fiscal year 2008-a more than 70 percent increase in removal of criminal aliens from the previous administration.”

It’s one thing to tell political lies, but this is taking it to a whole new level.  I know I sure didn’t sign up for THIS kind of change with Obama…