WHY BATMAN WOULD SUPPORT ICE

 

  A few weeks ago I came across a post from a comic book artist that I follow which depicted Batman putting an ICE agent in an arm bar. Later, he deleted and then reposted the same image featuring the caption, "I was born to fight your brand of order!" This line was originally spoken by Batman in the Batman: the Animated Series episode, "Lock-Up". The character of Lock-Up is a vigilante of sorts that was created for the show. This character takes ordinary Gotham citizens and leaders that he deems guilty (such as police, news reporters and the mayor) and imprisons them in his personal, private prison. It is implied that Lock-Up is right-wing politically. Thus, it seems like an accurate comparison since ICE agents are also aligned with the right and they seem to unjustly going after people. But is that really what is happening?  

In the episode, Lyle Bolton alias Lock-Up goes on a rampage and goes after people he personally deems guilty without any trial. In reality, ICE agents are doing the job of immigration services that a just society is supposed to do. A person being in a country illegally is factually breaking the law. It is not a matter of opinion. Furthermore, many of those that ICE agents have captured and deported have been violent criminals and sex offenders. The reason for the artist and others to say Batman would be against ICE (particularly DCAU Batman) is because Batman demonstrates compassion for people, including his enemies. The problem is that Batman's compassion never overrides his sense of justice. Batman would not keep the Gotham police from arresting rapists and pedophiles, so the idea that he would keep ICE from doing so is ridiculous and goes against his character. 

To say that a character like Batman falls exclusively on one political or ideological side is just as ridiculous. Obviously he is going to be influenced by the worldview of whoever is writing the character, but that's not to say that there aren't also things that are universal. Batman defends the innocent and apprehends the guilty. The problem is when we conflate who is innocent and who is guilty. If you think ICE is guilty then there is no conflict, because Batman is doing what he does best. But when you understand that ICE is actually stopping the guilty, then Batman going after ICE is inconsistent. 

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