Decades-Old Immigration Policies Under Fire Despite Trump Era

Matt Taibbi, editor-in-chief of Racket News, stated in an interview that immigration enforcement actions now criticized by many were standard practices for decades before President Donald Trump assumed office.

“Many of the practices being described as unprecedented today have been common 10 or 15 years ago,” Taibbi said, explaining the shift in public perception. He noted street detentions and immigration-status checks—such as those conducted in Los Angeles and Georgia—long predate the current administration.

Taibbi highlighted past deportation levels, stating record numbers of people were deported during politically popular eras. “These are exactly the same policies that have been in place in the United States for 20 years,” he emphasized.

He also observed that news organizations increasingly adopt reflexive anti-Trump stances when covering policy decisions, regardless of prior support. Taibbi added that audiences have grown weary of politicized content and factual inaccuracies, driving viewers toward independent journalism despite its inconsistent reliability.

“The media is a trust business,” Taibbi said. “When you make mistakes or audiences can predict your stance ahead of time, they tune you out.” He described social media as accelerating polarization by favoring provocative takes over measured reporting.

For journalists seeking credibility, Taibbi urged returning to foundational standards: admitting errors and considering all angles of a story.