These are all the faces of the American monomyth.

The American monomyth is rooted in the idea of the Rugged Individual rising up against injustice, fighting the bad guys mano a mano. Sure they might have help, but basically the Chosen One shoots the bad people and that’s how you defeat tyranny.

This idea is common among Americans but especially on the right.

Americans looooove the idea of the Rugged Individual who has had enough and rises to heroism by fighting injustice with fists or guns or light sabers.

That’s how they see ICE.

They honestly, truly believe—this is important, they’re not being mendacious, they really believe—that the US is experiencing an overwhelming invasion of foreigners who want to destroy them.

Yes, I’m being serious, they ***actually*** ***believe*** this.

They honestly, truly believe that Democrats are actively aiding the foreign invaders because Democrats want to destroy the nation.

They honestly, truly believe that ICE are brave underdogs, rising up against the evil invaders and their Democratic allies to save the world, throw back tyranny, and restore freedom.

Yes, ICE is breaking the law. So what?

Dirty Harry broke the law. Neo broke the law. Luke Skywalker broke the law. Thomas Jefferson broke the law. Batman broke the law. Oskar Schindler broke the law.

They honestly believe ICE are the brave underdogs. They honestly believe ICE is like Katniss Everdeen. They honestly believe that the United States will soon be destroyed if the brave Rebellion in the form of ICE agents don’t rise up and throw off the foreign invaders and their traitorous allies.

If you don’t understand this, nothing about current American politics makes sense.

American MAGA conservatives deeply, truly, sincerely, without duplicity, to the bottoms of their hearts, believe they are this guy.