> The simplest explanation is that this administration wants the US to be hated

Why would they want that?

Off the top of my head, playing Devil's advocate it could be to encourage illegal immigrants to self-deport. The jailing of Germans with green cards for a fortnight is an unintended side-effect of cranking up the overall hostility level.

Perhaps because they know it wouldn't matter.

It's not like there is a ready drop in replacement for things people desire from the US.

I get that they don't care. I was just curious why that would be an intention in itself.

That department -- customs and border enforcement -- needs to be ideologically pure for the next phase. They'll need to be able to rapidly judge new hires for culture-fit. Can you do the things that only make sense if your boss wants USA to be hated? Can you deftly talk that group of travelers into all unlocking their phones for imaging?

To forge the cult -- the more outside hate the more inside cohesion.

>The simplest explanation is that this administration wants the US to be hated and sees atrocities as an important tool in that effort.

What atrocities? Deporting someone who doesn't have the right to stay in US?

I was thinking more the body cavity searches of tourists that were linked. The indefinite detention of tourists.

Agreed mere deportation is not an atrocity. But that’s not what’s going on here.