The Trump administration has instituted all sorts of requirements in its first months to monitor Americans, particularly immigrants.

The big picture: From an undocumented immigrant registry to proof-of-citizenship for voting, President Trump has attempted to create a landscape in which the government can demand to know — and force people to prove — their identity in radical new ways.

Between the lines: The data the administration is pushing for can be weaponized against people.

As part of the Trump administration’s playbook to influence and reorient the priorities of universities, school protest leaders have been targets.

Meanwhile, as the government probes schools over alleged antisemitism, employees at Barnard College received a survey from a federal regulator asking if they were Jewish and whether they practiced Judaism.

“That the government is putting together lists of Jews, ostensibly as part of a campaign to fight antisemitism, is really chilling,” Nara Milanich, a Barnard history professor who is Jewish, told AP. “As a historian, I have to say it feels a little uncomfortable.”

  • jordanlund@lemmy.worldM
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    5 hours ago

    If they want my ID I’d be sorely tempted to lead with my concealed carry permit. “Here you go! Photo and everything!”

    • gedaliyah@lemmy.worldOPM
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      4 hours ago

      I don’t think you’re who they’re targeting - at least not with this.

      This is targeting the large portion of the population that may have difficulty obtaining identification through a somewhat arduous process.

      • Anyone who is not a citizen, even with proper documentation of residency.
      • Anyone without a secure way to store documents long term. Not everybody has access to birth certificate and Social Security information. Someone in an abusive relationship, for example.
      • Anyone without permanent housing.
      • Anyone with insecure or unusual housing - they require current utility bills in an individual’s name. Think of a large family of 10 or 12 people. How would they each separately provide two proofs of address?
      • Anyone with limited English language skill, including native speakers with poor education.
      • jordanlund@lemmy.worldM
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        3 hours ago

        Not targeted YET, but the next phase of this is to target everyone so they can say “No, no, see, we’re asking EVERYONE.”