You might think ICE agents are just random people who somehow ended up being chosen by the Department of Homeland Security to enforce immigration laws. Considering their strict adherence to orders and sometimes aggressive methods, it’s not surprising that many view them as thugs in uniform. However, shockingly, ICE agents do undergo training before being deployed in public. One activist in San Diego, California, recently encountered a fresh batch of ICE recruits coming out of training. The man, understandably cautious, decided to record the group. What made the situation particularly striking was what he did next: he began humming the “Imperial March” theme from Star Wars, the music often associated with the appearance of the story’s evil antagonists. Many people have drawn parallels between ICE agents’ actions under the Trump administration and the tyrannical empire from Star Wars, making the choice of music especially pointed.
As the recruits walked past, the San Diego activist asked them whether they were ready for life as ICE agents, reminding them that signing up meant taking on serious responsibilities. He asked whether they enjoyed hunting humans and warned them that being new didn’t mean people wouldn’t notice who they were. The ICE agents remained silent and continued to walk, refusing to interact with the activist.
The man remarked that one day they might regret their decision. When the Trump administration is gone, he said, the ICE agents would be left with a tarnished reputation for having chosen that path.
People online who saw the video applauded the activist’s actions. Many agreed that seeing ICE agents on the streets of San Diego was already troubling, and seeing more of them only heightened concerns. “The only ICE I like is crushed,” one user wrote. Others were surprised that some of the new recruits were people of color. Many found it difficult to understand why anyone would choose to join ICE and participate in actions that could harm their fellow community members.
“Surprisingly diverse group of bootlickers… SAD,” one person commented. Another added, “Minorities signing up to be the pick-me-off of the day is just wild to me. You’re just tools, and when tools get used up they get replaced. Just ask your fellow ICE agent who deported hundreds, got promoted, then deported someone after a background check revealed they were undocumented.”
Several viewers were taking screenshots of the ICE agents’ faces online, intending to identify them and publicly hold them accountable. “There will be no getting over the shame of what these soulless people are doing. May they be despised by everyone they come in contact with,” one user wrote.
