President Trump (White House photo)
President Donald Trump portrayed himself as a savior to Iraqi Christians, campaigning on a promise to protect Christians in the Middle East and at home. "Chaldeans For Trump" signs appeared at some Michigan rallies in 2016.
Now, some have buyer's remorse after the U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) earlier this month rounded up 114 Chaldeans and Muslims in Metro Detroit with criminal records and prepared them for deportation. The ACLU of Michigan has filed a lawsuit to try to block the deportations.
"We voted for Trump," Lina Denha tells Niraj Warikoo of the Detroit Free Press. "That's what we get from him? ... Obama is better than him, 100 times."
Denha's brother Haydar Butris, 38, was arrested by ICE agents June 11 at his Sterling Heights home. Years ago, he had been convicted of marijuana possession.
"He's been here most of his life. He did a mistake. He paid for it. Now, he is a good father, has kids, a family. He works, pays taxes and everything. And you just come knock on the door, come out of nowhere and grab him? That's not right."
Some Chaldeans believe that Trump is worse than President Barack Obama, whose administration in 2010 stopped the deportation of Iraq immigrants with criminal records after considering complaints from Chaldean leaders, the Freep writes.
