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: The banality of evil in the Border Patrol's secret anti-immigrant slur
Sacramento Bee ^
| July 31, 2026
| By Gustavo Arellano
Posted on 07/31/2026 6:27:06 PM PDT by artichokegrower
LOS ANGELES - Javier Ramirez was handcuffed in the back of an unmarked car, bruised and confused, when immigration agents used a word he had never heard before. It was June 2025, and they were bragging about the raids in the Los Angeles area that swept up hundreds of immigrants - and a few U.S. citizens, like Ramirez. The unfamiliar word caught Ramirez's ear.
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; US: California; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: aliens; borderpatrol; california; deportarellano; fakenews; gustavoarellano; illegals; losangelesslimes; tonk; whatistheword; word
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https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/10/01/dhs-debunks-new-york-times-false-reporting-dhs-does-not-deport-us-citizens
THE FACTS: Ramirez was arrested for assaulting a law enforcement officer and interfering with agents performing their duties.
To: artichokegrower
FUNNY NOW NO POLITICIANS OR MEDIA PEOPLE ARE THE VICTIMS OF THE ILLEGALS.
2
posted on
07/31/2026 6:32:31 PM PDT
by
ridesthemiles
(not giving up on TRUMP---EVER)
To: artichokegrower
If they don’t like how they are treated maybe they should go home. Tonks.
3
posted on
07/31/2026 6:33:14 PM PDT
by
HYPOCRACY
(There is no gravity. The earth just sucks. )
To: artichokegrower
Lighten up Gustavo. You foreign freak.
4
posted on
07/31/2026 6:33:34 PM PDT
by
FlingWingFlyer
(Gen Zers are the same mental midgets who ate Tide pods as toddlers.)
To: artichokegrower
5
posted on
07/31/2026 6:34:59 PM PDT
by
BenLurkin
(The above is not a statement of fact. It is opinion or satire. Or both.)
To: BenLurkin
Right. I am not clicking on a Sacramento Bee link just to see what the word was.
6
posted on
07/31/2026 6:36:03 PM PDT
by
rlmorel
(Factio Communistica Sinensis Delenda Est)
To: artichokegrower
I think it’s rather funny and cute. White messicans would be Honky Tonks.
7
posted on
07/31/2026 6:36:55 PM PDT
by
FlingWingFlyer
(Gen Zers are the same mental midgets who ate Tide pods as toddlers.)
To: artichokegrower
“...agents used a word he had never heard before...”
-
Well?
What was it?
We’re waiting.
8
posted on
07/31/2026 6:37:13 PM PDT
by
Repeal The 17th
( I am obsessed with not being obsessed with anything.)
To: artichokegrower
The word he had never heard before was the word tonk.
“For at least half a century, Border Patrol workers have used the onomatopoeic word, referring to the sound of someone getting hit, as slang for undocumented immigrants.”
9
posted on
07/31/2026 6:39:59 PM PDT
by
roving
To: Repeal The 17th
“Tony”
Described as the worst slur on the face of the planet. Only one theory is offered in the article as to what it means, namely that it’s the sound when an illegal is hit on the head with a flashlight. And that’s presented as only a theory. Honestly, all. I know it’s the Bee, but go read it. The handwringing over this horrible slur is hilarious
10
posted on
07/31/2026 6:40:03 PM PDT
by
j.havenfarm
(25 years on Free Republic, 12/10/25! More than 12,750 replies and still not shutting up!)
To: Repeal The 17th
Tonk.
Sort of like wet back
To: j.havenfarm
12
posted on
07/31/2026 6:40:44 PM PDT
by
j.havenfarm
(25 years on Free Republic, 12/10/25! More than 12,750 replies and still not shutting up!)
To: Repeal The 17th
The word is tonk. I’ve never heard of it either, but this story said it’s been used for quite some time by the Border Patrol. It’s like when they use the word wet. As in wet back.
13
posted on
07/31/2026 6:44:30 PM PDT
by
roving
To: j.havenfarm
Egad! What a terrible word! Why...
TONK!
TONK!
TONK!
TONK!
TONK!
TONK!
TONK!
Whaaaaaat? That's a bad...
TONK!
TONK!
TONK!
TONK!
TONK!
TONK!
TONK!
Ah. I see. More language games from Leftists who want to dictate what words are good and what words...
TONK!
TONK!
TONK!
TONK!
TONK!
TONK!
TONK!
Damn! Something wrong with my computer!
14
posted on
07/31/2026 6:48:45 PM PDT
by
rlmorel
(Factio Communistica Sinensis Delenda Est)
To: artichokegrower
Crimmigrant seems pretty accurate, but I’m sure they’d have a problem with it as well.
15
posted on
07/31/2026 6:49:28 PM PDT
by
ConservaTexan
(February 6, 1911/June 14, 1944)
To: FlingWingFlyer
Maybe the ice agents were referring to a honky tonk to visit later that evening.
16
posted on
07/31/2026 6:49:34 PM PDT
by
chief lee runamok
(tek grudaute, quality learing center)
To: artichokegrower
‘Tonk’ is evil and banal. Who knew… and who actually cares?
17
posted on
07/31/2026 6:50:04 PM PDT
by
House Atreides
(I’m now ULTRA-MAGA-PRO-MAXq)
To: j.havenfarm
“”””””it’s the sound when an illegal is hit on the head with a flashlight”””””””
Is that how they distinguish an illegal from a legal? Like testing watermelons?
18
posted on
07/31/2026 6:51:21 PM PDT
by
ansel12
To: artichokegrower
I was thinking the unusual phrase was “ PLEASE STOP”.
19
posted on
07/31/2026 6:57:36 PM PDT
by
Mark
(DONATE ONCE every 3 months-is that a big deal?)
To: artichokegrower
What was the word?
Mojado?
20
posted on
07/31/2026 7:03:55 PM PDT
by
Deaf Smith
(When a Texan takes his chances, chances will be taken that's for sure.)
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