The camera rolls on a street corner in New York City where Nick Shirley asks a man what he thinks about the current state of America. The response? The man looks at the camera, says "Goodbye, fascist," and walks away.

As Apple Lamps notes, this is the polarized reality Shirley uncovered while traveling across the country. As reports of ICE raids and National Guard deployments circulate, the country is split down the middle on the concept of "reverse migration."

The View from D.C.

In the nation's capital, Shirley found the tone shifted dramatically from New York. He spoke with a resident who praised the National Guard presence, pushing back against media narratives labeling them a "Gestapo" force.

"They are the nicest people on the planet," the resident told Shirley. "I feel a lot safer as a D.C. resident with them here." This sentiment was echoed by those who feel the immigration system has broken down completely, with one woman telling Shirley, "It's really become an invasion."

The 'Fascist' Label vs. The Middle

Back in New York, Shirley documented palpable anger, with residents viewing enforcement actions as a betrayal of American values and bluntly calling the President a fascist. However, in Chicago, Shirley found a more pragmatic vibe. One man laughed off the National Guard presence, saying he hadn't seen them yet, but when pressed on the hard question—keep everyone or deport everyone?—even he leaned toward deportation.

Shirley's interviews reveal that while the media paints this as a simple battle between racists and humanitarians, the street-level view is far more complex.