I find myself drawing unsettling parallels between the current administration and the dark chapters of history under Adolf Hitler. Take immigration, for example. Hitler painted non-Aryans as the ultimate enemy, leading to atrocities that should never be forgotten. Today, we see echoes of that rhetoric as the president portrays immigrants as “enemies of the American people.”

Mr. Trump has focused on a small number of criminal elements, attempting to cast them as the face of an entire group—a tactic that breeds fear and division. While fear has always been wielded as a political weapon, it’s particularly heartbreaking when it targets those who come to this country seeking a better life, just as our ancestors once did. After enduring a grueling journey, these hopeful individuals are met not with open arms but with a government that treats them with hostility, undermining their basic humanity.

Mr. Trump knew he couldn’t get away with Nazi-style camps, but he did ship immigrants to be imprisoned in El Salvador without regard to whether they had been convicted of crimes.

This leads us to the pivotal role of ICE. While the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency serves a crucial function, its methods concerning the treatment of immigrants raise troubling questions. Consider this: undocumented individuals are apprehended and detained without due process. But here’s something even more unsettling—ICE agents don masks during these operations. What could be the reason behind this masked approach? Is it an attempt to shield their identities, perhaps out of shame for the actions they carry out?

What truly infuriates me, however, is how prisoners are treated. I have witnessed disturbing videos showcasing images of detainees being herded like livestock, forced into identical white uniforms that not only covered their bodies but also obscured their faces. This dehumanizing practice—compelling them to crouch like animals—may be intended to allow agents to control larger groups of prisoners, but at the cost of the prisoners’ dignity. Whereas the masking appears designed to prevent the detainees from being recognized, making it harder for anyone to advocate for their release.

These are human beings, many of whom have committed no crime beyond pursuing a better existence. They deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, not as mere animals in a system that too often forgets their humanity.