ICE: Ruthless Assassins with a Track Record of Failure

The recent actions of the Homeland Security under Donald Trump have sparked significant controversy over the past couple of weeks. In one incident, federal agents shot and killed a man, quickly scrambling to justify their use of lethal force with questionable reasoning. In another, they made house calls to individuals who expressed negative opinions about them online.

Since taking office, the Trump administration has promoted the idea that combating white supremacy is a noble cause. The Department of Homeland Security, led by former Secretary Kristi Noem, spent $220 million to bolster her image as a cowboy fighting against immigrants, likening the situation to a new World War against our own communities. It’s a rather embarrassing spectacle.

The propaganda is cringe-inducing, but the immigration enforcement it supports has been undeniably harsh and deadly. Just this past Tuesday in Texas, an ICE officer shot and killed Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a father of three who had lived in the U.S. for 35 years, contributing to society by building homes and caring for his family. The agency quickly claimed that lethal force was justified because he allegedly attempted to “weaponize his vehicle.” However, video evidence suggests this narrative may be yet another fabrication, similar to past incidents in Minnesota. The feds later admitted they were actually searching for someone else entirely, yet Salgado Araujo still lost his life.

ICE has shown it struggles with public accountability. This is troubling, but it also seems incapable of handling even basic interactions, like emails and social media posts. It demands a complete lack of accountability not just from the law, but from society as a whole.

Over the past year, DHS has created its own twisted version of “doxxing,” a term once associated with online gamers, where the public is now encouraged to identify federal agents responsible for tragic events, such as the killing of Renee Good in Minneapolis. The government is keen to keep the name of the agent involved, Jonathan Ross, under wraps. Before her death, Good told agents, “I’m not mad at you,” yet they killed her anyway, later disparaging her.

The government is clearly frustrated by public criticism regarding the shooting of innocent individuals. DHS has even stalked and intimidated a man who protested against state-sponsored violence, issuing him a flimsy “WARNING NOTICE” akin to the nonjudicial “warrants” they use to invade homes. It’s reminiscent of a scenario where characters like Jay and Silent Bob show up at your door over an online comment, but with guns and federal authority. It’s a serious issue, yet the approach is absurd. What are they so afraid of? We already know: accountability.

In Minnesota, officials had to sue the federal government to access evidence for investigating ICE shootings due to the feds’ refusal to cooperate. This behavior is puzzling for an administration that claims to support law enforcement, especially considering the events of January 6th. The current White House description of that day as “a date which will live in infamy” while lamenting the treatment of those who attacked police is hypocritical.

This all ties back to Trump, whose agenda for over a decade has been to amass power while erasing the concepts of shame and accountability. He reacts explosively to any slight, a trait mirrored by his followers who (1) deny wrongdoing, (2) shift blame, (3) intimidate critics, and in some extreme cases, (4) obstruct justice. They also (5) manage to look ridiculous while doing it.

These individuals feign outrage at every opportunity. Shortly after the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, Noem labeled the victims as “domestic terrorists,” a truly malicious act while the evidence was still being collected. Good had just dropped her 6-year-old at school when she was shot; Pretti, an ICU nurse, was assisting someone in need on the street.

The government’s incitement only reinforces the public’s fears about policing. As I noted during the country’s recent birthday, state and local police have shown themselves to be ineffective at upholding our rights and often react poorly to even mild criticism. So, what happens when they receive federal backing? Incidents like reporters allegedly being assaulted by police.

Policing in America has always been complex, but the Trump administration has turned it into a chaotic cycle of abuse, fueled by vast funding and blatant racial bias. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has received so much support from Trump that it operates with impunity, executing a fundamentally racist agenda of mass deportation. ICE agents have kidnapped individuals, barged into homes without warrants, assaulted journalists, terrorized the public—including children—and even killed innocent people in broad daylight. And that’s just scratching the surface.

ICE poses a serious threat to democracy, and its violent actions deserve serious scrutiny. However, it’s also important to recognize that these agents are weak and pathetic, and they deserve to be mocked. Their ridiculous uniforms look like they were pulled from a “how to be tactical” guide. Americans are already ridiculing them. What better way to protest this farce than by showing up with a human frog at the forefront, as seen in Portland? The cops arrested that frog. After trillions spent, we’ve learned nothing about counter-insurgency, but now we have a frog legion.

These ICE agents are so pathetic that they wear masks in public like a bunch of cowardly wannabes, likely with minimal training. You’d think the average DMV worker would have been masked up for years based on the treatment they receive, but the average government employee is far braver than these clowns.

ICE is now the most well-funded law enforcement agency in the federal government. If you’re familiar with the actual waste and abuse of federal funding, you know this doesn’t guarantee quality or competence. This is simply Trump’s private domestic army. I’d call them Stormtroopers, but I’m pretty sure some of them are sourcing their uniforms and gear from discount retailers.