It’s no secret that people who aren’t aware of their rights tend to fall victim to certain violations, and this even happens to many detainees caught by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). That’s apparently why one woman from California took it upon herself to intervene in an ongoing ICE operation and even managed to drive away ICE agents by simply pointing out their supposed transgressions.
TikTok user demii_luv6, aka A.J or AJ, is the woman in question, and it appears she spotted what she claimed to be a “harassment” where an ICE agent was questioning a Brown man at a bus stop in California. AJ immediately confronted the ICE agent and told the other person of color that he didn’t have to show the ICE agent anything, especially since the “federal” officer refused to identify himself:
In the video, you can see AJ immediately questioning the ICE agent. “He’s at the bus stop. What are you messing with him?” AJ asked, as the ICE agent tried to push her away. AJ reiterated to the person of color that “You don’t have to show him nothing [anything],” and kept pressing why the ICE agent refused to identify himself despite trying to identify or possibly detain the Brown man.
The ICE agent even tried to get the person of color into their SUV, but thankfully, several other civilians joined the AJ in questioning the ICE agents. The TikTok user then proceeded to film the rest of the masked ICE agents along with their vehicles and license plates, though it appears most of them really don’t want their faces revealed to the public despite labeling themselves as “police” in their vests.
People online have praised the TikTok user
AJ’s video has since gone viral on other platforms, such as X, where she was commended by online users for standing up for others, especially those who might not be aware of how law enforcement should operate in certain states. “My hero. Thank you,” comments a viewer, with another also sharing a similar sentiment, “We could do this all day. Not showing his sorry [expletive] a thing.”
Some have even suspected that the ICE agent was not legitimate, or perhaps might have been a bounty hunter in disguise, “THAT DUDE IS NOT ICE,” claims one commenter. “No is, Masked, unmarked cars… This is all deeply problematic. Some say it’s Trump’s Gestapo; No, this is Trump’s Sturmabteilung, out there to harass and intimidate,” worries another commenter.
In any case, others have hoped that people in positions of power could be as brave or upstanding as the TikTok user who managed to drive away ICE agents, “More brave then the people in office.”
Sadly, it appears not all states in the US have citizens who will stand up for the rights of others; in Florida, a legitimate US citizen was even detained and nearly abducted by ICE, and no witnesses tried to defend her during the process. Still, sometimes all it takes is one brave soul for others to also step in and help, just like what happened in the TikTok video.
