A chaotic scene broke out outside a Phoenix courthouse when ICE agents showed up to arrest unsuspecting immigrants who willingly showed up for their court hearings. However, the real drama ensued between the officers and on-site protesters.
In a video posted on Reddit, a group of protesters was seen trailing ICE agents, all wearing masks, as they approached the courthouse. The protesters visibly aired their disappointment at the officials by chanting, “Shame on you! No more ICE!”
At one point, the protesters rallied around the unmarked ICE van in protest, and one of the protesters was aggressively pushed back by an agent. The masked official was also captured exchanging heated words with another protester.
A female protester boldly spoke to the masked officials, saying, “You’re following orders from a fascist regime! An authoritarian regime! This is the United States of America, everybody has rights!” Despite the protests, the same woman from earlier on was further manhandled by more masked agents.
According to Fox 10, the incident marks the second day in a row that ICE agents have shown up to an immigration hearing to detain unaware citizens. Immigration attorney Isaac Ortega, who was at the scene, spoke about his client being taken away. Distraught, he revealed that although his client had the right to file an appeal, he didn’t even get a chance to do so before he was taken away. Ortega further added that his client’s case wasn’t illegal immigration because he showed up at the border and followed all due processes.
After watching the chilling video, many social media users reacted. One likened the masked ICE agents dressed in plain clothes to the Nazi police. “Walks like Gestapo… Ignores the constitution like Gestapo… Is Gestapo,” the user commented:
Another netizen pointed out that the officials appeared to be untrained. “No way these individuals are trained and qualified, but I’m willing to bet they have been deputized.” A fourth similar comment read, “These are absolutely proud boys. They are not ICE officers. The time is now people. And that time is not gonna be here long if we use it to watch and chant and take video.”
One user lamented the “obstruction of justice,” writing, “It is amazing when I hear ICE tell protesters, ‘don’t obstruct [justice]’ while actively obstructing people from appearing before court.”
Cases of ICE agents oppressing citizens and immigrants in the name of illegal deportation continue to abound amid the Trump administration. Unfortunately, there is no hope that this won’t be the new status quo.
