The behavior of ICE agents across the country is becoming more immoral, reckless, and illegal. From ignoring the First Amendment to entering without a warrant, no one seems to be spared from their scrutiny. As the American public watches these infuriating incidents captured on camera, many feel helpless in the face of their own government. A mother and child in New York City are the most recent victims of ICE’s deplorable actions.
In the video, posted on Reddit, we see the scene unfold from the mother’s point of view. As ICE agents burst into what appears to be her bedroom, she immediately yells, “I have my baby!” In the background, you can hear agents saying, “Come out!” As they yell over her. Panic-stricken, she stresses that she’s holding her child, saying, “I have my baby, no!” To which the ICE agent leading the raid says, “Then I’m coming to get you by your baby.”
The extraordinarily violent response speaks to the opposite of any police force’s duty to its community. Rather than serving and protecting, in this video, they’ve incited fear and chaos. As the video continues, the ICE agent asks whether the woman heard them knocking with their weapons drawn. Given the time of night, it’s understandable that a mother with a child wouldn’t hear the door. She asks for “one second” as the ICE agent ignores her, instead attempting to pull her out of bed forcefully.
Neighbors were so concerned over the commotion that they thought a robbery was in progress. They called the police, who allegedly left when they realized ICE was responsible. Security footage shows the man leading the charge turned the camera away from the apartment, ensuring the break-in was not recorded. By the end of the raid, no one was detained; however, ICE agents threatened to come back and search again.
Many are calling for legal action against the ICE agents. Loopholes in the law make this challenging, as Reddit comments reveal. Many users called on the NYC police department to enforce federal law, which it is unable to do. “There is no clear avenue for open oppression upon the people if everyone is doing their job as intended. If the law is not upheld and justice is not served, it will lead to civil unrest and anarchy,” one user sums up.
