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I am writing this in despair and hopelessness. My friend was unjustly detained by ICE agents this past week, the day after he graduated high school. I met this specific friend while on a school trip to Nashville, Tennessee. He is a wonderful musician and has great heart. Always partying, he was the one guy who could give anyone good energy. He and his cousin are both legal refugees from Iran and have gone through all the processes necessary for protection and guaranteed rights in this country, including the right to live here. They are not criminals, they're teenagers hoping to live an amazing life. But unfortunately, their goals and hopes were cut short. My friend was detained by ICE while returning home in his car the day after he graduated. They took him and left his car on the side of the road. As far as his cousin, he too was taken, this time from his job at a local cafe no more than 5 minutes from where I live. I soon learned they weren't alone; ICE had detained at least 100 community members and targeted mainly Iranians. I've been helping to advocate for their release and hopefully get some community support. Their aunt is fighting to get them freed but nothing has happened yet. She has collected around 100 letters of support and is in contact with a lawyer and our state representative. I also found out from police that not only are these ICE agents disguised in masks and jackets, but they do not need to contact local authorities. My point is this: it's worse than any of you think. Republican or Democrat. For liberals, I bet a majority of you do care about what Donald Trump is doing to this country. But less of you realize how devastating it really is. This is more that Kilmar Abrego-Garcia; this is people like my friend, those who don't make it on the news but still are threatened. As for those on the other side, even more so, you do not understand. My friend was taken off the streets by vigilantes, as was his cousin and nearly 100 others. I don't think anybody realizes the fear I live in now. ICE is in my town, right now. I have friends on green cards and visas. What happens to them? I don't know. What's going to happen to my friend who is detained? Is he being deported? Is he being tortured? Is he alive? Is he still upbeat or has he lost his spirit? Will he be released? Will I ever get to see him again? I don't know. I blame MAGA. I blame Trump. I blame Elon Musk and all the Republicans who voted this tyrant into office. If you guys didn't do that, I could be living a life purged of fear of going outside. If Harris had won, my friend would be preparing for college. Instead, he's rotting in a cell. Thanks a lot, MAGA. It's great to live in a dictatorship.